It was all joy and jubilation for children in community homes and orphanages across Anambra State, as the wife of the State Governor, Mrs Nonye Soludo on Sunday, continued his tour of motherless babies and community homes in the state.
Recall that the governor’s wife had earlier visited five out of 31 registered homes in the state and yesterday saw her visit three more, including Onitsha North Community Children’s Home, In-land Town, Onitsha South Motherless Babies Home, Odoakpu and Missionaries of Charity/ Gift of Mercy Community Children and Compassionate Home/ Orphanage, Fegge-Onitsha.
During the visit, Mrs Soludo distributed various items such bags of rice, bags of beans, tubers of yam, toiletories, beverages, as well as cash gifts to the homes.
She also had the opportunity to pray, sing and dance with the community children, all of who were overjoyed at her visit and the gifts she bore.
Speaking after completing the day’s exercise, Mrs Soludo said it is her plan to personally conclude visits to all the 39 community homes in the state before Christmas.
According to her, the visit, which is keeping with the spirit of Christmas, is to extend love and kindness to the community children, as way of reassuring them that they are not alone in their plight.
“Christmas for me is all about showing love, compassion and support to one another.
“Our Lord Jesus Christ exemplified this love and as Christians following his steps, we have the duty to shine the light of Christ through love to people around us, especially these special children, who have found themselves in this situation.
“So, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord, we need to touch lives and I encourage everyone who God has blessed to take up this campaign to extend love to people around them. Partying and merriment is good but this is the real thing for me,” she said.
The governor’s wife observed that homes she visited were exceptionally well-kept, saying she is impressed by the commitment of the management of the homes towards the wellbeing of the children.
The governor’s wife also promised to undertake the surgery of a child with cerebral palsy, staying in one of the homes.
“I have discussed with the management of the home where the child is staying and there is urgent need to take up her treatment. We cannot leave her like that.
“They said they have been to the hospital and were given 50-50 chances. But we cannot afford to abandon her in such condition.
“So, I will reach out to the management and see how we can help this child,” she promised.
In her response, the Director, Education and Social Development, Onitsha North LGA, Lady Rita Anaekwe, who manages the Onitsha North Community Home, said in her 32 years as a social worker, she has not seen such magnanimity as shown by the governor’s wife.
“Mrs Soludo has set a standard and model in humanitarian disposition that other first ladies and female public office holders should emulate.
”By this gesture, which will definitely put smiles on the faces of the children in the homes, the governor’s wife has shown that she is a true mother, who truly cares for her children,” she said.
Lady Anaekwe, who spoke of how the turnaround of the facility she manages started, called on social workers to see their job as more of humanitarian works and to use compassion and love to handle the children under their care.
On her part, the Onitsha South Home Manager, Mrs Perpetua Okonkwo expressed appreciation to the first lady for the gesture and called on other good-spirited individuals and groups to assist them address some of the pressing needs of the children in the home, which she outlined to include food items, school fees, provision of kitchen and conveniences.
The children during the visit, prayed for the governor’s wife and for the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo and for peace in the state throughout the Christmas festivities.
