By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
A prominent Islamic cleric in Zamfara State, North West Nigeria, Mallam Aminu Aliyu, the Modibon Gusau, has advised the state government to take a census and compile comprehensive list of orphans across the state.
This, he said, had become necessary so that projections can be made on ways to cater for the future of the Les privileged children.
Modibo, who is also the Executive Chairman Zamfara State Preaching Commission, was making the observation Monday in Gusau, the state capital, during a lecture organised by Center for Supporting Vulnerable Household, Women and Children (CESVHOC), as part of this year’s World Orphans Day celebration.
He said the lingering bloodshed by the killer bandits has, over the years, resulted to thousands of orphans across the state “and these helpless children need urgent care, compassion and socio-economic protection for their future survival.”
Mallam Aminu explained that the issue of orphans is worldwide, especially among the war-torn nations, yet “their governments are managing to contain them for the future”, he said.
The Executive Chairman, Zakkat and Endowment Board, Mallam Muhammad Abubakar Sodangi, in his own comment,disclosed that some non-governmental organisations had, as at 2011 given 40,000 as number of orphans across the state.
In her speech at the occasion, the founder, CESVHOC INTIATIVE, Hajiya Farida Abdulrazak Tigana, reminds the community that it is the responsibility of the community, and the government to cater for the vulnerable by providing them with protection, ahelter, food, education and satisfactory healthcare.
She said the INITIATIVE was founded in 2006 as a self-sponsored organisation aimed at supporting vulnerable people especially women and children, stressing that this is a social responsibility for every member of the society including governments and corporate organisations.
