. . . Appreciates Davido’s benevolence for historic donations to orphanages

Just 10 months after dedicating a brand new church to an Agatu community ravaged in the 2016 massacre by Fulani herdsmen, a team from the United States has similarly commissioned two more humanitarian projects in Yobe and Benue states as part of activities in honor of Hostage Christian Schoolgirl Leah Sharibu.

On Valentine’s Day, a five-bedroom, fenced and renovated compound with Boys Quarters was donated to the Tivid Orphanage in Makurdi which had been given a quit notice last year for owing millions of naira in back rent.

The US CEOs of US Nigeria Law Group and Widows & Orphans LLC flew in from America and were joined by Representatives of the Benue State First Lady and the Commissioner for women affairs. Other dignitaries present included Hon. Ngunan Addingi immediate past commissioner for Information, the honourable Justice JO Ogebe Rtd Justice of the Supreme Court, Dr Mrs Mary Ogebe, first female doctor from northern Nigeria and Mrs Hannah Onekutu, wife of the late pioneer Secretary to the Benue State Govt Mr Simon Onekutu.

Speaking, one of the US humanitarian team leaders, Rev Dr William Devlin, stated how during his visit to the Tivid orphanage in September 2021, he was immediately touched by God to acquire a new property so the 54 orphans would not be thrown on the street even after he purchased new solar electric batteries for the orphanage.

Also speaking, international human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe co-lead of the humanitarian team stated that he first saw an appeal for assistance on Facebook by Hon. Ngunan Addingi’s daughter.

While attending a Tigris Jazz concert at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, he saw Mrs Addingi featured in a 700 Club video visiting an IDP camp.

The following day while waiting for a meeting in Makurdi the Benue state capital he decided to drop in on Hon Addingi who was his former Head Girl in Bristow Secondary School.

The Commissioner recommended they visit the orphanage and the rest is now history.

Ogebe urged the audience that also included the orphans, pastors and supporters of the ministry to note how God moved people from different parts of the world in response to a teenage girl’s faith to make the new orphanage a reality. Young Miss Addingi who attends an international school in Abuja had insisted on doing her community service in her home state of Benue. It was while she was there that she learnt about the eviction notice and began her appeal. She also traveled from Abuja to be in attendance at the dedication ceremony.

Favor Ada, head of Tivid Orphanage said that as at the time of the U.S. team’s visit in September, they had raised only N200,000 which was just 10% of the N2million rent owed. She expressed gratitude to God and the donors for the miracle blessing of an unexpected new property.

Commenting further, Ogebe said the guests should be aware that there’s no limit to where God can take you saying that he attended Demonstration Primary School in Makurdi but God had divinely repositioned him in strategic global fora.

Dr Mary Ogebe, head of the Future Hope Scholarship Foundation, promised to assist an orphan from TIVID with scholarship.

Said Emmanuel Ogebe: “This is the third construction project in Benue through my US network since last year as a block of classrooms was also built at an IDP Camp.

“I was very thankful to learn that famous Nigerian American artist Davido supported Tivid Orphanage in Benue state and also another recently destroyed orphanage in Plateau state with monetary donations.

“In my estimation I do not recall that any single individual in Nigerian history has systematically made a donation to orphanages in all the 36 states of Nigeria simultaneously. This leads me to believe that Davido has set a national record for philanthropy by his benevolence like what US Billionaire Warren Buffet did by mobilizing his billionaire friends to give to charity.

“Orphanages play a critical societal function serving as a social safety net for the most vulnerable and every state government should be appreciative and supportive of orphanages in their domain.

“I am happy that Benue is not like Kano where 16 Christian orphans from Du Merci orphanage have been abducted detained, abused, burnt and islamized by the state government.

“In fact when the police in Benue arrested a woman for trying to sell her baby for #200,000, they brought the infant to Tivid Orphanage to be cared. This shows the importance of orphanages and police community relations.”

Some of the orphans from the Agatu massacre are residents of the orphanage. In addition, a pastor from Chibok whose sister is among the kidnapped but still missing 112 schoolgirls was present and expressed his appreciation for the donation of an orphanage.

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