The Halal Children’s Home has called on Nigerians to embrace the fostering of orphaned and vulnerable children, stressing the need to provide them with family care, emotional support and opportunities for a better future.
The President of the organisation, Hajia Ramatu Abubakar, made the appeal on Saturday in Abuja during its annual awareness walk to commemorate World Adoption Day.
Abubakar said the initiative was designed to draw public attention to the plight of orphans and vulnerable children, particularly those growing up without parental care and the support of a family environment.
She noted that although many Nigerians expressed sympathy for disadvantaged children, such concern should go beyond words to include practical efforts to provide them with homes and proper care.
“It’s important that the community rallies around them to put them into their homes, because we always have compassion for orphans or vulnerable children, but we do not take the commitment to take them into our home and take care of them.
“So, we’re trying to bring awareness and ask the general public to open their hearts, open their homes for these children,” she said.
The Halal Children’s Home president observed that the government could not shoulder the responsibility of catering for all vulnerable children alone, considering the country’s large population and the growing needs of disadvantaged families.
She urged individuals, families and communities to support government interventions by taking an active role in improving the welfare and living conditions of orphaned children.
Also speaking at the event, the guest speaker, Mr Shuaib Mustapha, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), identified inadequate parental care and the effects of conflicts as major factors exposing children to vulnerability.
He called for stronger parental responsibility, increased government intervention and greater involvement of religious leaders in promoting responsible parenting and proper child upbringing.
Mustapha described children as a trust from God, urging parents to take their obligations seriously and ensure that their children receive adequate care and guidance.
“The problem we are having in this country is that we have so many children that are vulnerable as a result of a lack of parental care.
“Some were even just born and they don’t even know their parents. Some have been orphaned by virtue of wars and the crises in the country.
“So, the Halal Children Home is a group of women who have gathered themselves to contribute towards improving the society, in terms of providing for the children, the needy, and the orphans.
The senior advocate also raised concerns over drug abuse among young people, particularly children between the ages of 15 and 20, calling for concerted efforts by families and relevant government agencies to address the problem.
He specifically urged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify efforts to dismantle drug supply routes and ensure that offenders face appropriate sanctions.
Mustapha further encouraged children to adopt healthy lifestyles, engage in regular physical exercise and uphold sound moral values, noting that these were essential to their physical and mental well-being.
On the need to strengthen fostering programmes, he urged the government to provide greater support for orphaned children, especially those displaced or affected by conflicts in parts of Northern Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the Welfare Officer of the organisation, Khadijah Fashina, disclosed that the home currently operated in Abuja, Lagos and Kaduna, with plans to expand its services to three additional geopolitical zones within the next five years.
She said the organisation was presently caring for about 60 children in Abuja, 40 in Lagos and 30 in Kaduna.
Fashina added that pupils and students from various schools participated in the awareness walk to demonstrate support for the campaign and promote greater public involvement in the welfare of vulnerable children.
Speaking on the impact of the organisation, one of its beneficiaries, Sanusi Abdullahi, said he joined the home in 2018 while transitioning into Junior Secondary School and had since progressed to his final year at the University of Abuja.
Abdullahi, who studies Political Science and International Relations, expressed appreciation to the organisation, its donors and other individuals who had contributed to his education and general welfare.
He said their support had enabled him to overcome various challenges and remain focused on achieving his academic aspirations.
Another beneficiary, Bilkisu Abdusalam, also commended the organisation for the care and assistance she had received since joining the home during her secondary school years.
