Uncategorized
Kwara Orphanage Operators Seek Govt Support To Enhance Child Welfare
- Say Over 14 Millon Children Are In Orphanage Homes In Nigeria
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Kwara State Coordinator of the Association of Orphanages and Homes Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), Dr. Mrs. Omolehin Christie, has called for urgent government and public support for orphanages and vulnerable children amid growing economic hardship in the country.
Speaking with journalists on the sideline of a two-day training seminar on Child First Software and Advocacy Visits on Child Care on Thursday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, Mrs Omolehin, who is the Proprietress of the Hope Motherless Babies Home Int’l, Idofian, lamented the increasing number of abandoned and vulnerable children finding their way into orphanages due to family breakdown and poverty.
She recounted a heartbreaking case of children brought to her home through the intervention of the family court after both parents had failed to care for them.
“The father’s family could not cater for the children while the mother wanted to take them, but her husband refused to accept them because they were not his biological children. The family court had to step in and bring the children to my home,” she said.
According to her, the children had been denied access to education for years before they were admitted into her facility.
“One of the children was about 12 years old and had never been to school for eight years. When we enrolled them in school, they kept crying because they did not know anything. There are many children in similar situations,” she added.
Mrs Omolehin stressed the need for stronger family support systems to reduce the number of children ending up in orphanages.
“Whatever we can do to save families will help reduce the number of children coming into institutions,” she stated.
The ASOHON Coordinator also identified inadequate funding as one of the major challenges facing orphanage homes across Nigeria, noting that donations have dropped significantly since the time of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the number of donors has reduced drastically because many people are also struggling to survive. People who do not have enough for their families can hardly support charity homes,” she explained.
She further decried the poor power supply situation in the country, describing electricity as a major burden for orphanage operators.
“When there is no light, you cannot pump water, the children stay in darkness and cannot enjoy comfort. Power supply remains a serious challenge,” she said.
She revealed that the cost of switching to solar energy was beyond the reach of many orphanage operators.
“I invited a professional to assess my home for solar installation and I was told it would cost about six million naira. How do we raise such money just to provide electricity for the children?” she queried.
She explained that her facility consists of separate sections for boys, girls and babies, making electricity and maintenance costs even higher.
The ASOHON Coordinator also expressed concern over the rising cost of education, disclosing that five children from her orphanage recently gained admission into universities.
“I am happy that five of my children gained university admission last September, but financing their education is a major challenge. We want them to have the same opportunities as other children,” she said.
She appealed to government agencies, corporate organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support orphanage homes in providing quality care, education and welfare for vulnerable children across the country.
In his speech at the event, the National President of the Association of Orphanages and Home operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), Dr. Gabriel Oyediji has disclosed that no fewer than 14 million children are in Motherless and Orphanage Homes across Nigeria, adding that 95 percent of the figure are in private homes rather than government-sponsored facilities.
He lamented that the private homes are carelessly abandoned by the government thus leaving the children’s schooling, feeding and accommodation to the homes to complicate their existing challenges.
Oyediji, however, hinted that five home operators are currently in police custody in Minna, Niger State over poor documentation and police relationship and approval, urging members not to go against the government by running homes without knowing the laws guiding them.
He stated that philanthropists had lost trust and confidence in homes because of more negative stories about them rather than positive ones, noting that only courage and passion keep them in operations.
Also speaking, the Kwara State Commissioner for Social Development, Hajiya Mariam Nnafatima Imam, stressed the importance of capacity building for caregivers and operators handling vulnerable children, adding that quality child care requires not only compassion but also proper training, improved management skills and adherence to child protection standards.
The Commissioner identified inadequate funding, poor facilities and rising operational costs as some of the major challenges affecting orphanages and homes across the State, appealing to government agencies, corporate organisations, philanthropists and development partners to support the initiative financially to improve the standard of care available to vulnerable children.
She maintained that investing in the training and empowerment of orphanage operators would contribute significantly to building a safer and more compassionate society.
By: Fabian Apechihin
The Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani has allegedly ordered the arrest of political activist Zamani Musa, popularly known as Mycah Dangata, following comments in which he urged residents to vote against the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to sources familiar with the matter, Dangata was reportedly arrested after publicly campaigning against the re-election of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Sani. He was also said to have called on Kaduna residents to reject all APC candidates in future elections.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the activist’s arrest followed the circulation of a video he recorded shortly after the APC primaries. In the video, Dangata allegedly declared support for the National Democratic Coalition (NDC) and former Senator Danjuma Laah, while advocating for a power shift to Southern Kaduna.
A source claimed that Dangata was arrested by Operation Fushin Kaduna, a security outfit established by the state government in collaboration with the Kaduna State Police Command and other security agencies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and illegal arms trafficking.
“He was arrested by Operation Fushin Kaduna, the state security outfit composed of policemen,” the source alleged.
Another source suggested that Dangata may have drawn the government’s displeasure after comparing Governor Sani unfavourably with former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai.
Activist Criticises Governor Sani
In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Dangata, speaking in Hausa, criticised Governor Sani’s leadership style and political decisions. He praised El-Rufai, arguing that the former governor adopted a more people-centred approach to governance.
According to Dangata, El-Rufai allowed communities greater freedom in choosing their preferred candidates, whereas he accused the current administration of imposing candidates on local communities.
He further urged residents to unite politically against the APC, stating that those concerned about Kaduna State’s future should work together to defeat the ruling party at all levels of government.
“We should vote out Asiwaju (President Tinubu), vote out Uba Sani, and vote out every candidate presented by the APC,” he said.
Dangata described the alleged imposition of candidates as inconsistent with democratic principles and argued that residents should collectively oppose what he characterised as undemocratic practices.
As of the time of filing this report, the Kaduna State Government and security authorities had not publicly responded to the allegations surrounding the activist’s arrest.
By: Fabian Apechihin
Suspected militia members have attacked a community in Katsina-Ala Local Government Area of Benue State, killing one person and setting several houses ablaze before fleeing the area.
According to reports, troops operating under Sector 1, in collaboration with personnel of the Benue State Civil Protection Guards, responded to a distress call at approximately 8:30 a.m. on June 4 following an attack on residents of Mbasa community in Utange Council Ward.
Security operatives swiftly deployed to the area but found that the assailants had already escaped before their arrival.
A preliminary assessment revealed that one resident lost his life during the attack, while several homes were destroyed by fire allegedly set by the attackers.
During a search of the scene, security personnel recovered two empty 7.62mm special ammunition cartridges, suggesting that firearms were used in carrying out the assault.
The victim’s body was later evacuated by family members for burial in accordance with local customs and traditions.
Military authorities stated that efforts are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for the attack. They also confirmed that security presence has been strengthened in the area to prevent further violence and reassure residents of their safety.
Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, for an alleged contract scam to the tune of N1,098,961,500 (One Billion, Ninety Eight Million, Six Hundred and Ninety-one Thousand, Five Hundred Naira Only).
The couple were arraigned before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering of obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime contrary to Section 17(a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004.
Taiwo and Omotola ran into trouble when a widow, Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a proprietor of a private school in Delta State, petitioned the EFCC alleging that the first defendant, Taiwo, approached her to finance a road construction contract purportedly awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
Kenechukwu further alleged that a total sum of N1,980,000,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Eighty Million Naira Only) was paid into Taiwo’s account domiciled with Access Bank Plc.
Investigation further revealed that the couple invested the proceeds of the illicit activities in the acquisition of two properties in Ado-Ekiti, namely: Town Tavern Lounge, located at No. 1, Ikere Road, off Florence Court School, Ado-Ekiti, and a four-bedroom bungalow located on Florence Court, Irewolede Estate, Ado-Ekiti
The Commission had on Monday, May 25, 2026 secured the interim attachment of the two properties.
Count 2 of the charge reads:
“That you, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo and Awolegan Omolola Omotola, sometime between January 2024 and November 2025, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1,098,961,500.00 (One Billion, Ninety-Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-One Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) from one Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, which was paid to you through Olorunbukunmi Taiwo’s account number 0027303340 domiciled with Access Bank Plc, by falsely representing that same would be used to execute a road construction contract awarded to you by the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADobobEC), a pretence you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(1)(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 1(3) of the same Act.”
The defendants pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to them.
Following their pleas, counsel to the EFCC, Sesan Ola, prayed the court to fix a date for trial and order the remand of the defendants.
Justice Usman adjourned the matter until Thursday, June 11, 2026, for hearing of the bail application, and commencement of trial. The judge also ordered the remand of the defendants in the EFCC custody.
Kaduna Government Allegedly Orders Activist’s Arrest Over Anti-APC Remarks
One Killed, Several Houses Burnt as Suspected Militias Attack Benue Community
EFCC Arraigns Husband, Wife for N1bn Fraud in Ado-Ekiti
-
Uncategorized5 years agoFG, states urged to harness flooding for ranching, others with technology – Agbaje
-
Headlines10 years agoBreaking: EFCC seals Borno House of Assembly, as Hon members take to their heels
-
News12 years agoNigeria Security Operatives Stage Manhunt For Homosexual Perpetrator
-
News9 years agoHow 21-year-old Girl fled community over accusation of lesbianism
-
News10 years agoYobe Gov Moves Against Deputy
-
Opinion7 years ago7 signs she has friend zoned you
-
Technology5 years ago
Online job placement company headhunts women
-
Headlines10 years agoBorno Dep Gov Abducts Another Church Leader