Islamic Orphanage Foundation to FG: Tackle insecurity squarely

By Stephen Olufemi Oni

The Chairman of the Islamic Orphanage Foundation (IOF), Alhaji Seifullahi Alege, has called upon the federal government in conjunction with the state governments, spiritual leaders and traditional rulers to squarely address the seemingly intractable security challenges ravaging the country, saying a lot of orphans are products of banditry, Boko Haram insurgency and kidnapping, among others.

Speaking at the annual Orphanage Day programme of the Foundation on Sunday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, Alege expressed worry that the IDP centres are also not immune and safe with incessant attacks on the hapless people there.

He said: “We want to see the whole scenario as being politically motivated and the root of the whole killings must be be identified with a view to bringing the culprits to book ”

The Chairman enumerated the challenges facing the orphanage, which, according to him, was majorly finance and called on well meaning individuals, corporate bodies and governments at all levels to come to the aid of the Foundation. He, however, thanked President Muhammad Buhari for allowing the Nigerian Customs Service to make donations of food items and clothes to orphanage homes across the country, including their own Islamic Orphanage Foundation.

Alege also mentioned health challenge being faced by the Foundation, but thanked Allah for keeping the children healthy and the Medical Director and staff of Matrix Medical Centre at Adewole for support given to the children through their free medical services.

He disclosed that construction work at the IOF Multipurpose Centre is in stealthy in progress and implored all their stakeholders and the general public “to come to our aid in completing the multipurpose centre.”

On the challenge ahead, the Chairman appealed for stakeholders’ usual support on payment of the children’s school fees “realising that our students at higher institutions, JSS 3 and SS 3 would be required to pay at once as they resume the new academic session, while there is just a paltry sum left in the coffers of the Foundation.”

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