Privileged members of the society, as well as religious leaders, have been called upon to assist the under-privileged in our society, especially orphans. This call was made by Fatima Bani Al-Maja, a Youth Corps member serving in Government House, Lafia, while donating various materials worth tens of thousands of Naira to Children of the Maimuna Katai Motherless Childrens Home and Orphanage in Lafia.

Describing an orphanage as an institution devoted to the care of children whose parents are dead or otherwise unable to care for them, Al-Maja stated that from available Statistics, there were an estimated 7 million orphans in Nigeria with another 800,000 more added to this number every year due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. She stated that fate could thrust positions of responsibilities on these orphans as it is possible in the future for some of them to grow up to become governors, first ladies, ministers, senators, and other professionals.

Items that formed part of the donation included Pampers, Tissue papers, Detergents, Indomie Noodles, Biscuits and Dettol.

Responding to the donation, the representative of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Youth and Social Development thanked Fatima Al-Maja for being very kind hearted, especially towards orphans and motherless babies. She stated that though Government had a responsibility to care for the children in the orphanage, it could not do so alone. She said the donation by Fatima was the first to be received by the orphanage this year and assured that the items will be used exclusively for the care of the children.

The Maimuna Katai Orphanage presently has about 10 children whose ages range from 4 years to four months.

Present at the presentation ceremony were representatives of the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Youth and Social Development; the State Coordinator of NYSC and the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Lafia.