Oct 11, 2008 - Bread Winner’s Day Dinner Organiserd By The World In Need Nigeria And The Unversal Centre For Children And Youth Development
It is a great pleasure to be here this evening to identify with the noble course that is being championed by the World in Need Nigeria and the Universal Centre for Children and Youth Development.
I commend the organisers of this event through which we are being called upon to offer our support towards this worthy and rewarding effort of giving hope to the orphans and vulnerable children in our society. The welfare of these helpless children who for no fault of theirs have found themselves in such a challenging situation, is our collective responsibility which we cannot afford to neglect.
In the past decade, there has been an unprecedented growth in the population of orphaned children. This growth which is still on the increase in the African continent particularly sub-Sahara Africa including our country is largely attributed to two factors among others, HIV/AIDS and Civil Wars. For these children, the future looks most uncertain and the actualisation of their dreams and aspirations seem to be an uphill task.
Among these children are men and women with great potentials. If we fail to contribute our quota towards discovering and developing these potentials, the benefits and blessings which the nation and generations should enjoy may be lost forever. We have seen practical examples of men and women who were able to rise above the challenge of childhood deprivations to become great citizen not only of their nations but of the whole world.
On the other hand, if we fail to rise up to this challenge, we run the risk of brining out the worst in these children who will become a social menace to the society as we have it today. The only way we can turn around and forestall this situation is to show concern for the condition of these children by reaching out to them, giving them a sense of belonging, putting smiles on their faces and reassuring them that the loss of their breadwinners will not be the end of their dreams and aspirations.
This responsibility is, of course, not that of the government alone. There is need for the active support of corporate organisations and individuals in order to achieve more tangible results.
It is on this note therefore that I urge everyone to give generously towards the completion of the hostel and school building project which I am informed was started last year and meant for the orphaned and at-risk children.
Once again, I commend the organisers of this event, the World In Need International and the Universal Centre for children and Youth Development.
Thank you and God bless you all.
Her Excellency
Mrs. Abimbola Fashola
First Lady of Lagos State