By Elizabeth Chukwuma
The increasing cost of funding the Education of children with disabilities across the 36 states of the Federation and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, may have encouraged Worship for change Foundation and other non-profit Organisation to intervene to support schools catering for such special needs.
The non-profit Organisation, Pastored by one Wale Adenuga may have set the stage for other Organisations and Churches to fund such schools. He had declared that Worship for Change Foundation was encouraged to take the bold decision to support schools catering children with disabilities’’ to make an appreciable impact on the society’’.
This may have informed why the Foundation had donated N33 million and which was said to have been presented to four of the schools dedicated to catering for children with disabilities, across the 36 states of the Federation and FCT’’ ,
The Worship for Change Foundation was said to have made the presentations to the schools in an event organised on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, in Lagos, the nation’s Financial and Commercial Capital. Some of the schools that were said to have benefited from the Worship for Change funds, according an eyewitness account were Joy in Africa Foundation based in Asaba, Capital of Delta, home state of ,a former Vice Pesiential Candidate of Atiku Abubakar, who incidentally was Vice President during Olusegun Obasanjo’s Administration in the February 25, 2023, Presidential election, which had produced the incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC.
Another beneficiary of the Worship for Change Foundation was said to be Let Cerebral Palsy Kids Learn Foundation based in Lagos , Sedo Initiative for Children With Special Needs based in Abuja, FCT , the eat of power and To Omo Re Centre for Special Empowerment operating rom Ilorin, Capital of Kwara state. Was
Given an insider information , Adenuga, who pastors the Worship for Change Foundation , disclosed that the N33 million that was disbursed to the four foundations spread in Asaba, south –south Nigeria, Lagos, South west Nigeria, Ilorinn, north central Nigeria and FCT , was ‘’raised through the Green Worship Benefit Concert’’, a star studded event held on October 2, 2023, in Lagos , featuring renowned Nigerian gospel artists like Nathaniel Bassey, Tope Alabi, COBHAMA Asuquo and Waje. The Concert, was said to drawn Worshippers from different parts of the country and outside the country who were said to have support the event.
Informed sources told The Value News Worship for Change Foundation had disbursed N8.25 million, to the special schools being part of the proceeds from the October, 2023, Green Benefit Concert.There are indications hat Worship for Change Foundation has so far been able raise over N120 million through its Green Worship Concert for 38 Charity homes caring for thousands of Orphans and children with special needs across the Country.
Adenuga, the Pastor of Worship for Change Foundation, may have taken advantage of the October 2023, concert to speak out about the Chief Responsibility Organisation, emphasizing its ‘’unwavering commitment to supporting vulnerable children’’. He noted that since 2004, he has used the platform ‘’to help indigent, particular, children with special needs’’.
He lamented that’’ the special children’s needs are barely cared for in present –day Nigerian society’’. He asserted that ‘’these- uncared for children are special’’, noting that ‘’God cares deeply for them’’. Appreciating the individuals and corporate donors from Nigeria and other parts of the world, towards the success of the Worship for Change Foundation initiative, he was said to have assured the stakeholders ‘’of continued monitoring of the funds to ensure that ‘’it was utilized effectively’’.
Hear him: We will follow closely to ensure that the money raised from the Green Worship Concert event is used as intended in addressing the specific needs outlined by each of the benefiting schools across the country.
Mrs. Kawan Aondofa –Anjira. Whose Foundation, Sedo Initiative had benefited from the Worship for Change Foundation funds, had recounted her experience in bringing up the first two children with cerebral palsy, was said to have highlighted the societal stigma and discrimination such children had faced over the years. ‘’They were considered spirits, undeserving for life’’, she remarked .Fueled by her courage in bringing up the two children with cerebral palsy, may have encouraged her husband, to throw his weight to Sedo Initiative Foundation and turn it to a haven for others in similar situations, by offering happy and support for their children.
Taking a critical look at her own upbringing, which may have informed why she set up the school to care for children with special needs, she had revealed how her parents were told to abandon her since they already have ‘normal’ children. ‘’Growing up, I realized that society deemed children like me unworthy, even denying them Education despite our parents efforts’’, she remarked.
The Sedo Iniative founder heartfelt testimonies during the presentation of the Cheques to the benefiting schools in Lagos, according to an eyewitness account had resonated deeply with the Audience, underscoring the schools’ critical role in nurturing and empowering children with special needs.
Samuel Abiodun jayi, a Clergy man, representing To Omo Re Centre, during presentation of Worship for Change Foundation cheques to the benefit schools had expressed the Management immense gratitude’’for the time financial support, describing it as ‘’God sent.
. An elated Rev. Ajayi was said to have told Adenuga, overseeing the Worship for change Foundation that ‘’To Omo Re ‘’ school which was numerous challenges, will make a significant progress this time around with the funds intervention.
