NIGERIA: Group Donates Food Items, Clothing Materials To Orphanage Home In Kwara

By Balogun Arisekola Azeez, Ilorin, Kwara State.

The Young Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Kwara State branch, has extended humanitarian assistance to the Islamic Orphanage Foundation Ilorin.

The donation includes of food items, clothing materials and other consumables for orphans and widows responsible for their welfare.

The outreach programme, held as part of the association’s corporate social responsibility drive aimed at supporting vulnerable groups and improving living conditions within host communities.

Speaking with African Culture Television repoter in Ilorin, the State Coordinator of the association, ESV Ibrahim Sani, said the initiative was conceived to demonstrate solidarity and provide direct support to the orphanage.

“We have come in solidarity to show support to the orphanage home. It is an outreach initiative, and this orphanage home is our target for this phase.”

He explained that the decision to support the home followed careful consideration by members of the association.

“Basically, we want to impact lives positively, and we thought about which class of people would be in the best position to receive our support items. At the end, we unanimously agreed to focus on the children, especially orphans, and the widows who are taking care of them.”

Sani added that the gesture was also designed to boost the morale of the beneficiaries and reassure them of society’s support.

“The plan is to make them feel they belong, to make them realise that they are not alone.”

Highlighting the association’s broader programmes, he noted that humanitarian interventions remain a key part of its mission.

“We have various programmes in the organisation. Some are primarily designed to promote the profession, while others, such as this initiative, are part of our social responsibilities to give back to society.”

The Vice Coordinator of the association, ESV Olaniyi Kafilat Jumoke, expressed deep emotional connection with the children and their caregivers, noting that personal experiences have shaped her compassion.

“I feel so deeply for the children. As a widow, I can relate to how overwhelming the weight of such feelings can sometimes be.”

She emphasised that the outreach was organised to provide relief and encouragement to the home.

“This initiative is to support our orphanage. The next phase will target other strategic locations as well, and I pray that God continues to provide for us so that we can keep assisting society in our own little way.”

Jumoke further highlighted the association’s recent community-based engagements.

“It is a programme that runs on different initiatives. Just last week, we extended our professional outreach to Saint Barnabas Secondary School, Ilorin.”

Also speaking, ESV Bolaji Taofiq, a staff member of the Kwara State Geographic Information Service and member of the association, described the outreach as a reflection of the group’s dedication to social responsibility.

“The outreach is a very good one. We have to give back to society as part of our social responsibility as an organisation.”

He noted that the initiative was motivated by the desire to support others and secure a better future for vulnerable groups.

“As God has made us who we are in life, we deem it important to support society and impact others to guarantee their future success in life.”

Taofiq added that the association does not restrict its humanitarian efforts to a fixed annual schedule.

“It is not an annual programme. We occasionally carry out humanitarian support initiatives like this, coupled with the fact that we are in the seasons of Ramadan and Lent.”

In his response, the Administrative Officer of the foundation, Mr Lanre Aloku, conveyed the appreciation of the management and beneficiaries for the donations.

“I am so overjoyed that words have failed me to express how grateful I and the foundation are for these gifts. I have spoken with the Chairman, and he prayed fervently for the donors.”

He further expressed the foundation’s admiration for the gesture and offered prayers for the donors.

“We are so impressed. They deserve prayers. May God bless them. May God grant them good life and prosper them in all aspects of their lives.”

Providing background on the home, Aloku spoke about his involvement with the foundation and its growth over the years.

“When I retired from active service in 2012, I decided to join the foundation which was founded in 2002.”

He added that the foundation has expanded significantly since its establishment.

“The foundation started with 10 orphans, but now we have over one hundred. Whenever we receive items, we distribute them

effectively to the children and the widows who care for them.”