Destiny Trust Foundation @ 10. The woman who gave up her home for street kids — and other stories

Enikeni ti iwo ba nipa lati se iranlowo fun, ohun l’enikeji re, toju e.

That song used to be very popular in the southwestern part of Nigeria in the late ’80s and the early ’90s.

Its meaning? Whoever you are able to help during times of need becomes your relative, friend and neighbour. Take care of them.

True giving and happiness are deeply connected. They both come from a place deep within the soul. A gift, no matter how small or big, is always enjoyed twice; first, by the person giving genuinely from his heart; and secondly, by the recipient of the gift.

Giving is what has defined The Destiny Trust’s bold move to hand a second chance at life to homeless and disadvantaged children.

In 2021, and after many years of giving hope to the needy in Lagos, the foundation decided to establish two new centres in Ibadan and Igbo-Ora, both in Oyo State, in advancing the course of catering to the needs of homeless and disadvantaged children in the country.

Abimbola Ojenike, co-founder of the organisation, told FIJ that the centres were created so children under this category could enjoy a safe and stable environment without any disruption.

“All our centres in Lagos, Ibadan and Igbo-Ora were inspired by the need to create a loving home for children and a safe and stable environment, from where children facing homelessness or other vulnerabilities can go through school without any disruption,” Ojenike said.

“While the scale of the problem might be different from one location to another, all the homes were inspired by the same need.”

ESTHER’S HARBOUR, IGBO-ORA

On April 20, 2021, the foundation opened a centre called Esther’s Harbour in Igbo-ora, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area of Oyo State. According to Ojenike, the decision to open the centre was inspired by the good deeds of Late Madam Esther Ojenike, his mother.

“We only got an opportunity to expand to Igbo-Ora in 2020 when my family offered our home for use as a foster home in memory of my mother, Mrs. Esther Ojenike,” Ojenike said.

“The Igbo-Ora home was named after her to recognise her legacy and the sacrifices she made for many children during her lifetime. Her home was home to scores of children that were not even her biological children.”

Presently, the Igbo-ora centre is home to five children.

OUR HOME REQUIRES ADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY AND A BUS

Bidemi Popoola, The Destiny Trust’s Care Programmes Officer in Igbo-ora, said the centre is presently home to children and other disadvantaged individuals between the ages of 10 and 19 years.

“The children in the centre are mostly still within the basic education age limit. We have been able to enrol them in regular schools so they can acquire knowledge just like other children,” Popoola said.

“The centre is also situated in a peaceful community where there are no security challenges.”

On the challenges being currently faced by the home, Popoola said lack of adequate power supply as one.

“The foundation is currently trying to set up a digital learning centre in Igbo-Ora but lack of constant power supply has been a great challenge,” she said. “It is believed that with adequate power supply, the learning centre would not only benefit children in the home but also children in the community.”

Apart from the power supply issue, Popoola also said the home is also in need of a bus.

IDERA HOUSE, IBADAN

A month after the Igbo-Ora home was opened, the foundation established another centre in Ibadan called the Idera House.

“Apart from Lagos, Ibadan is another major urban centre with a large population of street children. We also understand that a good number of street children in Lagos are from south-western states, apart from internally-displaced children who come to Lagos from the northeast,” said Ojenike.

“This is why Ibadan was our first choice in deciding a location for expansion. We had this plan for several years but didn’t set up due to funding.

“In 2021, a good citizen in Ibadan who is worried by the same problem asked us if we would like to come and help disadvantaged children in the town.”

The co-founder said the opportunity offered by the individual worked in tandem with the foundation’s level of preparedness and within a short period, the Ibadan centre was opened.

“She single-handedly funded the set up and operation of the Ibadan Centre for the first year. We decided to name the home ‘Idera’ to express our hope that the centre would be a place of relief, where children recover from a traumatic childhood experience and begin the journey to greatness.

“This has been the reality of the home.”

‘WE CRY TOGETHER, WE LAUGH TOGETHER’

Motunrayo Gbenjo, the foundation’s Care Programmes Manager at the Ibadan centre, told FIJ that the Idera House is currently home to 14 children.

“Here at The Destiny Trust, we give every child a sense of belonging such that everyone is everyone’s brothers and sisters, no matter the tribe, height or age. Everyone looks out for one another. We cry together and we laugh together,” Gbenjo said.

“This helps in giving a sense of identity to the children, especially the ones whose parents and guardians we are not able to trace.

“It also helps their confidence.”

Just like the Igbo-Ora Home, the Ibadan centre needs a bus for logistics.

“There are times we are expected to take the children for outdoor activities and even taking them to school. This has always been a challenge, apart from the fact that the foundation operates on a lean budget.”

ABDUCTED BY BANDITS, EMBRACED BY THE DESTINY TRUST

In March, John Mohammed (not real name) was added to the foundation’s Idera home.

The 17-year-old was one of the students who were abducted by bandits from the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, in Kebbi in June 2021.

After many months in captivity, John successfully escaped from the bandits’ den.

However, the trauma of torture, brutality and horror lingered in his mind after his escape.

John’s father is late; his mother is battling with cancer. He would eventually receive support from The Destiny Trust, which assisted him by facilitating therapy sessions with specialists from the Doctors Health Initiative.

Presently, John is benefitting shelter, care and educational support from the foundation.

RESCUED FROM BEGGING ON THE STREETS

Omolara (not real name), another child at the Idera home, does not know her father. She also has no recollection of her mother because she abandoned her since she was a baby.

“Till date, nobody knows her mother’s whereabout,” Ojenike said. “People who knew Omolara’s mother on the streets told her grandmother that she was dead.”

Ojenike also told FIJ that at 13, Omolara had never been to school.

“While children go to school, she would go begging on the streets to feed herself and aged grandmother, who is visually-impaired. Occasionally, she would help people hawk on the streets and be rewarded with food for the day,” Ojenike said.

“Without a rescue from child labour, there was no hope that Omolara would ever be educated. She has also been exposed to other forms of abuse in the squatter settlement where she lived with the grandmother.

“She was eventually rescued by the foundation with the permission of the government in Oyo State. She is now in school and making good progress.”

IN OYO, THE CHILD RIGHTS LAW IS JUST ON PAPER

In October 2006, the late Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Governor of Oyo State, signed the Child Rights Bill into Law.

A review of the 272 sections of the law show that the state shall, amongst other things, ensure that a child is given protection and care necessary for his or her well-being, has the right to private and family life, right to freedom from discrimination and right to parental care, protection and maintenance.

Other notable sections include conditions to be complied with by persons providing care for the children and power of the state government to inspect their premises.

However, just like what is obtainable in the Lagos State Child Rights Law, there is no provision in the law by the Oyo State Government to assist parents, guardians and institutions with a considerable level of funding in taking care of children.

While still addressing the matter, Ojenike told FIJ that things have gotten to a stage where it would be pointless to continue to blame the state governments for their shortcomings.

“It is pointless blaming the government at this point. We can have solution-focused discussions without making the government look bad,” he said.

Ojenike also pointed out that government facilities require adequate funding as well.

“There are also government-owned facilities which cater children’s needs. These facilities need funding too for improved quality of care to children.”

CHILD BENEFITS, THE GERMAN EXAMPLE

In Germany, any person who is registered with his or her place of residence or habitual abode as legal residents of the country is entitled to receiving child benefits for the continued upkeep of his or her biological, adopted and foster children.

The benefits are paid on a monthly basis and until the child attains the age of 18. The payment can also be extended to the period the child turns 21 if he or she is not under any paid employment.

For this form of payment to be possible, however, the child must have duly registered as a job seeker at a government agency in Germany, another EU member state, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom.

The payment can be further extended to age 25 if the child is still in school, vocational training or has just completed a university course.

The government will also continue to pay if a child is unable to provide for him or herself because of a physical, mental or learning disability which started before attaining the age of 25.

THE DESTINY TRUST, 10 YEARS AFTER

On August 11, The Destiny Trust announced its 10th anniversary via a message on its official Twitter handle:

“Today is 10 years of working with you, our amazing partners, to transform the world of children. We celebrate the stories of change we wrote together as we re-imagine a future of greater impact. We say a big thank you!”

THE SOLUTION-FOCUSED DISCOURSE

When FIJ spoke to Ayotunde Adetomiwa, Child Educator, The Destiny Trust Bridge Learning Centre, she recommended ways in which state governments can assist private child care facilities in the country.

“The state governments can assist private child care facilities by including them in the budgetary allocations meant for state-owned child care facilities,” Adetomiwa said.

“Also, scholarships can be provided for some of the children in these centres.

“This will not only relieve the facilities of their financial burdens but also help them reach more children. More importantly, such steps would reflect the government’s interest and commitment to these categories of children.”

On his own part, Ojenike said there has to be a proper framework for child care facilities to function properly in the country.

“First, we need a clear, comprehensive and consistent framework for operation of child care facilities. Clearly written regulations that define processes, operational requirements and standards will be good for child protection and improved quality of care for children in those facilities,” he said.

“Our children deserve so much more. Departments of government dealing with children and youths should begin to see private organisations as true partners in ensuring this.

“People and organisations who give to non-profits also need to insist on transparency and discipline, otherwise philanthropy becomes a perverse incentive.

“If the mechanisms for ensuring financial discipline are in place, there is no reason why a government should not be required to actively support the care and education of thousands of children under institutional care.”

This report was produced with support from the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) under the Collaborative Media Engagement for Development Inclusivity and Accountability project (CMEDIA) funded by the MacArthur Foundation