By Dickson Omobola

Wife of the Chairman, United Bank of Africa, Dr Awele Elumelu, has called for support for underprivileged children, saying many are in dire need of assistance.

Elumelu, also the chairperson of Avon Healthcare Limited, said helping the needy should never end, stressing that each contribution was important to their care and development.

She spoke in Lagos as her family donated food items consisting of rice, beans, milk, sugar and noodles to three orphanage homes.

They were Hearts of Gold Children Hospice in Surulere, Open Arms of Mercy Orphanage Home in Okota and Atunda-Olu Home in Surulere.

This is coming after Tony Elumelu’s recent donation of 1,800 bags of rice to households in Onicha-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, during the yuletide.

Speaking at the flag-off of the donations, Awele said: “This is nothing new, we know we have children everywhere who need our help. So it is just one more place where we can help. It is an amazing thing that this lady (founder of Heart of Gold) is doing here. We just have to be able to help these people. It is not a question of why today, why tomorrow, it has to be ongoing.

“Everyone has to try in their own little way. We can help to support these children who, these people are also dedicating their lives to helping. So, the least we can do is to either help by cash or by kind. Some people have also given their time.”

Also speaking, Founder of Heart of Gold Children Hospice, Mrs Lajade Doyin, said: “Today, we are humbled to welcome Mrs Awele. What they – Awele and her team – have done today is so unbelievable.

“In the history of Heart of Gold Children Hospital, this has never happened. The magnitude of the goods, foodstuffs that were bought for my children had never been seen. Food is life. At this present moment, if you have food in Nigeria today, you have everything.”

Meanwhile, Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA Group, Alero Ladipo, said before the donations were made, they took a survey of what was needed.

Ladipo said: “A lot of them ask for beverages, rice, medical supplies and noodles among others. We also gave them a financial donation towards medical requirements or anything they need. We also made a financial donation of N10 million each to 10 orphanages.”

On her part, one of the children, Adedoyin Marina, expressed happiness about the gifts.