The wife of the Anambra State Governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo, has called on Nigerians to extend love and kindness to the less privileged in their communities as a way of giving them a sense of belonging and assurance that they are not alone in their plight.
The governor’s wife made this call during her tour of motherless babies homes in the state, on Sunday.
She emphasised that children in various orphanage homes worldwide, need and expect love, care, and compassion this Yuletide season.
According to her, the visit to the orphanage homes was keeping with the spirit of Christmas, which is a period to touch people and assist them in making life more enjoyable and meaningful for them.
She said, “Christmas for me is all about showing love, compassion, and support to one another. Our Lord Jesus Christ exemplified this love and as Christians following his steps, we have the duty to shine the light of Christ through love to people around us, especially these special children, who have found themselves in this situation.
“So, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord, we need to touch lives and I encourage everyone whom God has blessed to take up this campaign to extend love to people around them. Partying and merriment is good but this is the real thing for me.
“I am impressed with the homes I visited. They are clean. The children are happy, and we have come to put smiles on their faces.
“I urge the caregivers to always take good care of these children. Your reward is from God and the Almighty Father will continue to bless you all.”
The governor’s wife also promised to undertake the surgery and medication of a child with cerebral palsy, staying in one of the homes, saying that arrangements have begun for the child to undergo surgery.
“I have discussed with the management of the home where the child suffering from cerebral palsy is staying and there is an urgent need to take up her treatment. We cannot leave her like that.
“They said they have been to the hospital and were given 50-50 chances. But we cannot afford to abandon her in such a condition.
“So, I will reach out to the management and see how we can help this child,” she added.
The tour saw the First Lady visiting various orphanage homes including Onitsha South Motherless Babies Home, Odo-Akpu, Missionaries of Charity/ Gift of Mercy Community Children and Compassionate Home/ Orphanage, Fegge-Onitsha and Onitsha North Community Children’s Home, In-land Town, Onitsha.
During the visit, Mrs. Soludo distributed various items such as bags of rice, bags of beans, tubers of yam, toiletries, beverages, and cash gifts to the homes.
While reacting, the Director, Education and Social Development, Onitsha North LGA, Rita Anaekwe, who manages the Onitsha North Community Home, thanked the first lady for the gesture, adding that in her 32 years as a social worker, she has not seen such magnanimity.
“This gesture will definitely put smiles on the faces of the children in the homes, the governor’s wife has shown that she is a true mother, who truly cares for her children,” Anaekwe added.
On her part, the Onitsha South Home Manager, Perpetua Okonkwo expressed appreciation to the First Lady and called on other good-spirited individuals to assist them in addressing some of the pressing needs of the children in the home.
