From Omoregie Elvis, Benin
Philanthropist, Amb. Dion Osagie yesterday said that he has given his
proposed guest house as an abode to 17 destitute that he picked up in
Ring Road and New Benin areas of the state capital.
He made the assertion on his official home coming to Edo State having
travelled to 12 Europe countries and 22 cities.
He said his journey to other countries of the world was an eye opener
for him to have known that it does not cost much to show love to
humanity.
He said Nigerians must learn to contribute their quota to humanity
and should not turn a blind eye to the plight of the children roaming
the streets but think of how to improving on their lives noting that
they are the leaders of tomorrow.
“If you ever stop a child on Ring Road, Sokponba, Ogida, or other
parts of the streets that you want to buy pure water instead of asking
him why he or she is not in the school, when yours is in school, you
are part of the problem this country is facing. It is not normal and
we cannot continue to live like this”, he said.
He said he was happy to have started impacting on the lives of the
destitute by providing accommodation and feeding for them.
He said effort to reunite the children with their parents has begun
but some because of love shown to them have refused to be reunited
with their parents.
He said his organization, Godsent Foundation, is not an orphanage home
but a place he has set aside to take care of the destitute and the
indigents in the society.
One of the children, Osamudiamen Lucky, aged, 18, narrating how he
came about street life, said he has been on the street for five years
begging for alms and sleeping on the street of Lagos after he lost his
father until he decided to relocate to Benin City.
He said when he got to Benin, he attached himself to a bus driver as
his conductor and at night, he goes to the moat at the Airport Road to
sleep until Dion Osagie, proprietor, Godsent Foundation came to pick
him up. He said he would want to be a pilot when he grows up.
The other, Destiny Osaretin, 15, said he lost his mother at the age of
9 and ever since, his father abandoned him. He said his only choice
left was to take to conductor at the Ring Road adding that at night
after the day’s job, he goes to beg for aims and look for where to
sleep.
He said when Dion saw them on the streets, he asked them some
questions and offered to give them accommodation adding that ever
since then, their lives have improved greatly.