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By Kelechi Ogunleye
The Fire Officers’ Wives Association (FOWA) on Wednesday in Abuja, distributed relief materials to children of Alheri Special Community, a settlement for people living with leprosy, to commemorate Children’s Day.
FOWA’s National President, Mrs Olufunke Olumode, said during the exercise that the gesture was part of FOWA’s activities to mark the 2026 International Children’s Day.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items distributed included school bags, notebooks, writing materials, raw foodstuffs, drinks, sanitary pads, and other toiletries.
Olumode said the association decided to visit the community, located in Yangoji village, Kwali Area Council, Abuja, as a way of giving back and to show residents that, regardless of their status in society, they are loved and seen.
“We are here to show them love, to tell them they are loved out there and that the future is bright,” she said.
“There is a need to remind them not to look down on themselves and to encourage them that they can still succeed in life.
“That is why we are here today to put smiles on their faces with the little we have,” Olumode said.
Olumode advised the students among them to take their studies seriously and stressed the importance of education for successful careers.
She also encouraged the community’s children to enroll in vocational training that would help build and sharpen their career paths.
She acknowledged that such training might not be easily accessible but urged them to look out for people within their community who were already engaged in vocational work.
The FOWA president prayed that God would pave the way for their parents and provide all the support needed to ensure the children’s success.
Mr Pius Sunday, Head of Programs and Operations at Leprosy Mission Nigeria, appreciated FOWA for celebrating the special day with the children in the community.
He said the organisation, which supports persons with leprosy and other neglected tropical diseases, was glad to be associated with the outreach.
“The Alheri leprosy community is a settlement the Federal Government set up during the leadership of President Olusegun Obasanjo and then FCT Minister Nasir El-Rufai to accommodate people affected by leprosy and other neglected diseases across the FCT,” he said.
“We want to use this opportunity to thank you for the love, goodwill, gifts, and even the time spent here with the children.
“We truly thank everyone who made this happen and contributed in one way or another to extend this love and kindness,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, 15-year-old Aisha Bello, appreciated FOWA’s show of love and described the visit as a surprise.
She said the most exciting part of the visit was the distribution of sanitary pads.
Bello said most young girls in the community do not use sanitary pads because of the high cost.
She said she looked forward to the day she would no longer live in the community and would be able to attend a standard school.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Isaac Aregbesola
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