The Rotary Club of Wuse Central, Abuja, has donated cash, clothing, and other essential items to the City Initiative for Children with Special Needs in Lugbe community, as part of activities marking the club’s 25th anniversary of humanitarian service to vulnerable communities.
The donation, which included toiletries and financial support, was presented during a visit to the centre, where the Rotary team assessed the needs of the children and pledged further assistance.
Speaking during the visit, the president of Rotary Club of Wuse Central, Dr Tomola Emaleku, explained that the gesture was part of the club’s commitment to uplifting underprivileged communities.
“Today, we are celebrating our 25th anniversary, as the club was established on May 23, 2000. As part of our humanitarian services, we decided to visit this orphanage. When we arrived and saw the challenges here, everyone was touched, and we know we will return to do more.
“We brought clothes, soap, and cash donations to assist the home. Rotary engages in various community interventions, including education, maternal and child health, vocational training, and environmental projects. We supply school furniture, pay fees, and provide medical supplies to primary healthcare centres,” he said.
Emaleku also emphasised Rotary International’s global impact, particularly in polio eradication efforts.
“Rotary leads the fight against polio worldwide, with support from partners like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Beyond that, we believe in touching lives directly. Seeing children here who could not walk but are now mobile gives us hope and reinforces why we do this work,” he said.
He added that the visit was an advocacy effort to ensure that children with disabilities feel valued.
“God created us differently, but no one should be marginalised. We must recognise and support these children, giving them hope. Rotary will continue its humanitarian missions in the future,” he said.
Sarah Sandra, a retired NTA director, past president of the club, and chairperson of the 25th-anniversary committee, said the visit was aimed at giving back to society rather than just hosting a celebratory event.
“We heard about this centre and decided to contribute our little resources. After seeing the conditions, we realise our initial cheque will not be enough, we must return with more support.
“Rotary is a voluntary organization; we fund our projects through personal contributions. We have built boreholes, rehabilitated schools, and supported hospitals along Airport Road. The government cannot do it alone, we must all collaborate,” she said.
She expressed empathy after seeing a child abandoned by her parents, stressing the need for sustained intervention.
The head of operations at the City Initiative for Children with Special Needs, Michael Terver Tse, commended the Rotary Club for its visit and noted that such gestures keep the organisation running.
“As a non-profit, we rely on philanthropic groups like Rotary for survival. Their visit was not only insightful but also motivating for our volunteers. We are truly grateful,” he said.
The centre, which cares for children with disabilities, appealed for more support to relocate to a larger facility and expand its services.
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