Day women group lavished gifts on orphans

A particular orphanage in Calabar, Cross River State, seems to be receiving special attention and support from many Nigerians, and is acclaimed to be well run.  In Calabar, people say the once distressed children who lived in the orphanage are now made to live like those born with silver spoons. Perhaps it is because of […]

A particular orphanage in Calabar, Cross River State, seems to be receiving special attention and support from many Nigerians, and is acclaimed to be well run. 

In Calabar, people say the once distressed children who lived in the orphanage are now made to live like those born with silver spoons.

Perhaps it is because of this that the Cross River State Ministry of Social Welfare included the orphanage in regular government handouts, or inspection. According to reports, the last time they called at the home they expressed satisfaction with it.  

The orphanage, which is otherwise called the Holy Mother Elizabeth Obu Redeemed Children Home, is situated in the popular Ambo neighbourhood in Calabar South Local Government Area of the state. 

It was established about 40 years ago by the founder of a spiritual organisation with its international headquarters in Calabar, Leader Olumba Olumba Obu, but got government recognition over 10 years ago.

The founder is believed to have single handedly funded the welfare of the less privileged children, according to the manager of the home, Mrs Glory Mike Ntuk – a journalist by training.

She said there are presently 42 Nigerian and foreign children who are being raised at the one-storey building home where they are trained by professional care givers.  She said they range in age from three to 10 years.

Although the sponsor of the home, to the best of her knowledge, has selflessly invested resources for the survival and care of the children over these many years without complaint, yet Mrs Ntuk feels there was need for more public spirited persons, groups and even governments to equally come up and render support in raising the children, so that they can come out better Nigerians.

She disagreed that the home lacks nothing, saying, “It is not often that we have windfalls or large stock of food. And as you know, it can be dangerous when you run short of foodstuff, toiletries, beverage or medicines especially with the large number of very young children such as ours.”

Prominently responding to the call for donations and support, last week, was a women’s faith-based group, Blessed Mothers of the New Kingdom Nation III, led by Ambassador Mmama Nyime Obelle, as part of activities to mark their one year anniversary which climaxed on Nigeria’s 56th Independence Day, October 1st, which was also a day set aside to appreciate the woman, Mother Elizabeth’s Obu. The home is named after Mother Elizabeth Obu, for her total devotion to the less privileged children.

The women’s group traveled to Calabar and donated 10 double decker children’s beds, mattresses, bed sheets  and pillows, three dining tables with 24 chairs, 24 closets for personal effects as well as food items and clothes.

Mrs Ntuk said there are other groups and fellowships which visit and support them with scholarship, and highly commended the Blessed Mothers for refurbishing and equipping the home, saying words of prayer and blessings to them.

Adorned in their special uniforms and in their numbers, the women were led by their leaders, Patricia Nma Ibeabuchi and Blessed Mother Esther Etefue. They sang and danced with the children whom they had sewn special uniforms for to celebrate the occasion.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Obelle expressed gratitude to God for the ability given them to visit the children, saying they had to earmark the visit as the major highlight of their first year anniversary as a way of identifying with the good works of giving back to humanity.

She added that as mothers they were concerned with the plight of abandoned, displaced and orphaned children in Nigeria and elsewhere, saying part of their mission is to reach out to these types of children.

“Even though we have just clocked one year, we had to practically emphasize on one of our core mandates which is to extend support to children caught in the quagmire of life. As mothers we are touched by their situation because they are passing through a very difficult phase in their lives without close parental care. But we see that here in the Redeemed Children Home, these children are really having parental warmth.

“Since we like to encourage good efforts, we shall regularly encourage and give the children here and in other similar homes hope for tomorrow.” Obelle said.

Praying for the women group for their visit and show of love for the children, chairman of the home and spiritual leader of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, said God has used their action to bless and multiply their endeavours. 

He said it was the exemplary and charitable lifestyle of his mother, Elizabeth Obu, that informed the establishment of the home for the less privileged children.

The children showed their appreciation to the women by singing, dancing and praying for them.

One of the children, Sister Emem, said they were very happy in the home as they have been given hope in life, adding that all of them attend nursery, primary and secondary schools without lacking anything.

Also, women exhibited products, such as soap, detergent and beads which Obelle said were made by the women to support themselves.

According to her, many of the women were made to acquire the skill in order to make them less dependent on their husbands and also enable them contribute their own quota to the home.