Mbata who conducted journalists round the on-going building site of the Home, explained how he attracted a grant of N5.5m for the orphanage from DASH ME Foundation, owned by former Minister of Finance, Dr (Mrs) Kemi Adeosun, for the rebuild and upgrade of the Motherless Babies Home.
He noted that he leveraged on the Foundation’s support for charitable causes to attract financial support for the Home, which has consistently provided succour to homeless and abandoned babies and children.
“I had established a relationship with the Home for some time now through the late proprietor, Sir. H.C Mela and I visited intermittently and extended support to the Home.
“So, when the opportunity arose through the DASH ME foundation of the former Minister, I reached out and got their buy in. And to God’s glory, the Foundation accepted my recommendations and approved a N5.5m grant to the Save The Child Motherless Babies Home, Owerri to enable a total rebuilding and upgrading of their facility. Thus far, two out of the total of three tranches scheduled for total disbursement of the grant, have been made to support the rehabilitation of the Home” he said.
Mbata, the 2019 All Progressives Congress, APC Owerri Federal Constituency candidate, said before the intervention of the Foundation, the Home had depended mostly on aid from well meaning individuals and badly needed an upgrade of their accommodation. He expressed optimism that with the support of the Foundation in rebuilding the facility, the Home will do more in carrying out its responsibilities while providing the orphaned children a more comfortable accommodation.
“They are now rebuilding the place and as you can see appreciable work is going on at the Home. If all timelines are met, the new building would be ready by December 2022.” Mbata said.
He said his overall aim is to ensure that the Motherless Babies Home becomes more habitable and expansive, stressing that it will go a long way in positively affecting the inhabitants.
He called on government, at the Federal State and local government levels, to take more steps to curb the menace of baby factories and illicit trade in children, describing those as criminal and unacceptable.
He also urged the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), to continuously take proactive steps to checkmate and prosecute perpetrators of such nefarious activities.
The former Commissioner also advocated for stronger enforcement of existing legislation to stem the tide of child abandonment, theft and trade, while calling for greater enlightenment and education of the girl-child to reduce incidents of unwanted and unplanned pregnancies.
He further stated that government and well meaning individuals and corporate bodies should continue to do more to support such homes and orphanages to cater to the most vulnerable in the society.
“God has a way of blessing those who get involved in such activities. This is why I call on good spirited individuals to support such initiatives.” he said.
He further promised to extend such support to similar legitimate charitable homes.
In her remarks, the proprietress of the Home, Osinachi Nwanebo, said the Home was established by her late father, Sir. Mela and is aimed at giving shelter and succour to the less privileged and abandoned children. She thanked Hon. Mbata for his support and for recommending the rehabilitation of the facility to the DASH ME foundation.
She also revealed that funds have been released directly to them in tranches to facilitate the completion of the project.
PHOTO 1: Barr Obinna Mbata conducted round the building site by proprietor of Save A life Motherless Babies Home, Osinachi Nwanebo.
PHOTO 2: The building site undergoing renovation.
PHOTO 3: Barr Mbata with Motherless Babies At The Orphanage
PHOTO 4: Mbata Inspecting the building site.
PHOTO 5: Nwanebo taking Mbata round the building site.
