By Sam Eyoboka

ONCE in a while we read of one celebrity or public spirited individual or organisation showing support for under-privileged persons in the society through the donation of various food Items to the Motherless baby’s homes and putting a smile on the faces of those who give maternal affection and care to these innocent but unfortunate inmates.

FATHER’S DAY: Rev. Father John Damian Adizie (c), Mr. Chris Oghina, to his right, and Ezinne Charity Nneoma Onuoha, a.k.a Mother of Faith (r) and a number of the ‘Favoured’ children at the Father’s Day get together.

But the plight of orphans and other vulnerable groups is worse in the rural areas. Who supports motherless baby’s homes, orphanages, disabled people’s homes, rehabilitation centres, victims of natural disasters, and who provides skill acquisition programmes and give take-off grants for such people in our rural areas?

In what was regarded as an evil forest called Maryland Egoro Amede in the outskirts of Ekpoma in Edo State is an orphanage dedicated to the rehabilitation of drug addicts, mad people, erst-while commercial sex workers, demon-possessed persons, de-mented widows/widowers among other derelicts.

As millions across the world marked Father’s Day last Sunday, about 98 orphans including three weeks old, Mary and some 55 vulnerable adult inmates of the Orphanage of the Holy Spirit heartily rejoiced as they played host to an Uromi-based philan-thropic organisation, AnegbeMu Committee of Friends who had come to celebrate this year’s Father’s Day with them. Its a rare occasion and the youngsters made the very best of the opportu-nity as one after the other they showcased rare talents in singing, dancing and rib-cracking come-dy.

Led by the president, Mr. Chris Oghina, the 15-year old non-denominational association donated various food items and toiletries to the delight of the inmates.

Mr. Oghina said they were dazzled and mesmerized by the performance of the young lads, promising to come again at a latter date. Commending the efforts of the founders of the orphanage, he also called on other Nigerians to identify with the home in their efforts to rid the society of derelicts.

Responding, the founder, Rev. Father John Damian Adizie said the home which was commission-ed by former Edo State governor, Prof. Oserhiemen Osunbor in 2007, said the future of Nigeria is hinged on the ability of the privileged Nigerians and corpo-rate organisations to rehabilitate the army of youths on the streets of the country.

According to him, the Australian Embassy in Nigeria recently donated a block of hostels to the orphanage, pledging that God will use them to help Nigeria, while appealing to support the vision for the interest of the nation’s tomorrow.