Nigerians, particularly those whom God has blessed with financial resources have been urged to reach out to the less privileged in the society, especially children who due to no fault of theirs have found themselves in orphanage homes. The charge was given by Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, Catholic Archbishop of Lagos during his charity visit to St. Monica Orphanage, Iju, Agege, Lagos, as part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of the Class of Eight and his 25th Episcopal anniversary. Archbishop Martins expressed delight to see the children as well as those taking care of them, happy and healthy, in the conducive environment in which they live.
He said one of the reasons for the visit is the value that the Church has for everyone, adding that of utmost importance to the Church is the dignity of human life, the dignity of every human person and the value that each person has in the sight of God, and also as individuals. He said: “It is therefore a thing of joy to be able to come and to find the home as it is; the children looking happy and healthy, and the sisters and the staff doing a great work as we can see. “We can only continue to ask that those whom the Lord has blessed should reach out to support this. First of all, we must thank all of those who have been doing it, because without them, we will simply not have been able to keep the place going. So, we want to thank them.”
He urged those who have been helping not to relent in their charity works because the need is still there, as he called persons who have the means to also reach out to the children. He assured that the children will turn out well and become the pride of the Church, the home and themselves eventually. The Archbishop said the country is replete with people who are disadvantaged, and in dire poverty. “The people are confronted with multidimensional poverty in our country today and years of economic difficulties and policies that are not helping to alleviate the problem. “
We are hoping that as we begin to get men and women put in place, that the economy will actually begin to improve, and the suffering will also be reduced.” Stating that nothing lasts forever except the grace of God, the prelate asked the people not to lose hope lose conviction that with the grace of God, things will improve, and life will become more livable again. He reminded the government that they have a huge responsibility, as they asked to be voted in. He added that there may be all kinds of troubles and challenges to the elections, but whoever is in position should ensure that they live up to the responsibility of making life better for people by their own commitment to the common good.
He said: “They are asking us to make sacrifices. They themselves need to show that they are living according to what they are asking of us, so that people can therefore queue up behind them and assist in ensuring that things work out well. “These days, we are hearing of so many aides, multiple and multifarious aides being appointed by government for different offices. It seems like it’s giving jobs to the boys. But it’s also dragging the economy. It’s dragging the amount of money that is available to take care of people.” The Archbishop noted that it is important that there should be a balance in the way things are done, so that people can really feel that government at all levels is making the effort necessary to alleviate the sufferings of the people. On the palliative care that has been deployed so far by the federal and state governments, he said: “Palliatives by definition do not solve problems. By definition, palliative is just something to hold on to while the real thing is coming. “
And so, what I believe ought to have happened before, was to make certain there was adequate preparation to ensure that the fallout of the policy on removal of fuel subsidy was well prepared for such that people are not just simply thrown into poverty, thrown into hardships suddenly. “And the palliatives can only go a little way, and how many people are going to get the palliatives? How much is it going to be able to do for those who get them?” The prelate said thinking up policies and profiling properly for them is obviously the best way to resolve problems rather than palliatives.
He however, expressed fear that the palliatives may not reach those who are supposed to be receiving them. “Our experience of palliatives in the past is that they are pronounced, but they actually eventually don’t get to the people because they are locked up in some storeroom somewhere. So, we will just hope that things will pick up’, he said. Also speaking on the occasion, Rev. Sr. Therese Marie Orieso, Sister in charge of St. Monica Orphanage, Iju, Agege, Lagos, disclosed that the home was started on June 16, 2015 by Rev. Sr. Mary Augustina Awoyale, who had passion for taking care of the less privileged. According to her, in the past, there were lots of babies that were thrown around or brought in by the police to the home, but now, it is no longer so.
On how the home has fared so far, she said: “The kind gesture of benefactors, different groups from the Church, individuals, companies and philanthropists has helped so much.” Disclosing that the home currently has 18 children under its care, she added, “Two children left last year, one left last October to join the mother. Most of them are children whose mothers died at childbirth and the other partner couldn’t take care of them. Some were brought in by the police, and others from parishes with letters.” She disclosed that to admit any child into the home, the police and the social welfare ministry have to be notified.
She said: “They have all information, so that if you ask them how many children are here, they will tell you.” The presence of the Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria, Lagos Archdiocese, CWONLA was greatly felt as Mrs. Nneka Okenwa, first Vice President, spoke on behalf of the organisation. She said: “On behalf of Catholic Women Organisation of Nigeria, Lagos Archdiocese, on behalf of our President, Mrs. Catherine Alabi, we are here at St. Monica Orphanage to celebrate the 40th Priestly Ordination and 25th Episcopal anniversaries of His Grace.
And we are here to celebrate with the children in the Orphanage.” While congratulating the Archbishop, she urged him to continue with his wisdom, as she prayed God to continue to strengthen him to carry out his godly task. “We pray that God will strengthen him as he celebrates his 40th Priestly Ordination; that we will live to see him celebrate his golden jubilee anniversary”, she said.
