Sam Eyoboka
20 December 2008
Lagos — At least 25,000 street urchins without any hope of celebrating this year's Yelutide would benefit from the benevolence programme being packaged to give them a sense of belonging.
The programme scheduled to begin tomorrow is coming under aegis of Shelter Programme, a brain child of Divine Bounties Ministry a non-denominational Christian organisation set up last year to provide seccour to the less privileged in our society and put a smile on their faces.
Addressing newsmen recently on its plans, the president of Divine Bounties Ministry, Pastor Tayo Kayode said at least 25,000 less privileged members of the society will be taken from the streets of Lagos for four days in to a camp where they are expected to spend the Christmas of their life.
"During the period," he said "we hope to provide housing, good food, medical care, gifts, clothing, counselling, the Word of God, prayers and deliverance ministration to the participants."
According to Pastor Kayode, the ministry also plans to have a structured follow-up programme, most especially for those who will give their lives to Christ, with a view to catering for their needs as well as empowering them through skill acquisition programmes.
Kayode, who enjoined all Nigerians irrespective of ethnic or religious differences, to be their brothers' keepers, said the organisation has plans to establish a permanent rehabilitation centre where this category of Nigerians would be empowered to be useful citizens of the country.
He therefore appealed to Nigerians to partner with the group with a view to ridding the nation's streets of miscreants, many of whom are victims of endemic poverty in the country.
Within the one year of its existence, Pastor Kayode pointed out that the group made up of professionals from different backgrounds, has been reaching out to the homeless, and supported widows and their children.
"Suffice it to say that our encounters during our previous outreaches gave rise to the 'Shelter programme' to enable us effectively reach out to more people, especially during the Yuletide period because such individuals are normally lonesome at times like this," he explained.
After the programme which is scheduled to take place at three strategic locations in Lagos, Maryland Primary School, Maryland, The Apostolic Church Grammar School, Ketu and the Destitute Centre, Kano Street, Ebute Metta---those who are willing would be able to learn a vocational skill to aid them in ekking a living for themselves.
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