Press Releases

Fashola At 46: Celebrates Birthday With Underprivileged Children
• “We have dedicated the whole of this year to children, youths and women”, he says

Jun 28, 2009 - Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Sunday celebrated his 46th birthday with a visit to the Missionaries of Charity Babies’ Home in Ikosi, Ketu just as he also donated a new building to the Chief Michael Oyemade Ogunjobi Children’s Home in Surulere.

Governor Fashola, who was accompanied by his wife, Abimbola, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, among other top government functionaries, also said his administration has dedicated the whole of this year to children, youths and women in the State.

Speaking at the Missionaries of Charity Motherless Babies Home, Governor Fashola, who donated items ranging from food and beverages to babies’ things as well as other items to the inmates, praised the dedication of the proprietors of the Home saying the visit has given him the opportunity to experience the challenges under which the children had to grow up.

The Governor, who was received later cut his birthday cake with the support of the inmates, advised the children to be of good behaviour while promising that his administration would do all it could to support the institution.

Speaking at the Chief Michael Oyemade Ogunjobi Children’s Home, Governor Fashola said the opportunity to erect the building was because of the generousity which his friends demonstrated with their assets, resources and time, adding that his experience in life has also enabled him to always remember the underprivileged.

Giving reasons for erecting the building, the Governor recalled that when he became governor and was looking for land to build a hospital, he met Chief Ogunjobi, now late, who released the land which he intended to use as a filling Station, adding that after the man died the engineers said the place was too small for the 100-bed hospital his administration planned to build on it.

According to the Governor, “In the course of that, I also met Chief (Mrs.) Adedoyin who has dedicated her life to giving hope to children without hope”, adding that the third reason was as a result of the children whom Mrs. Addoyin, the Proprietress of Heart of Gold Children’s Hospice, has adopted as her own.

“One of them was thrown away as a day-old baby into a refuse pit and pigs were eating her head, though she is alive today, thanks to Mrs. Adedoyin. One of them may never know his father because his mother wass raped by an armed robber and she abandoned the child. One of them will never walk as indeed many of them because of cerebral palsy. One of them was a victim of drug abuse by his parents, her system had been damaged by cocaine and marijuana used by the mother”, the Governor said.

The Governor praised the dedication of Mrs. Adedoyin whom, according to him, “has given up her home to house these children”, adding that when he met the woman last year, he decided to use the land to assist the woman in providing adequate accommodation for the children.

Fielding questions from newsmen after, Governor Fashola said his administration has dedicated this year to the children, youths and mothers adding that soon the government would signpost some of its policy changes aimed to support women and children.

“You will see from all we have been doing – the Education Summit, the resuscitation of voluntary clubs, the Boys’ Scout, the Girls’ Guide, the Boys’ Brigade_ you will see from the sports complexes that are being built , it is all about women and children”, the Governor said.