Pastor Solomon Folorunsho
The coordinator, Home for the Needy, Uhogua in Edo State, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho like many Nigerians in a review have said, the year 2024 was a very tough one for the residents.
He stated this in an exclusive chat with hilltopnationaleng.com while reviewing events as they impacted the Home in the past year.
“…At some point, it seems we were not going to survive; with food scarcity, inflation and so many things, everything was just going negative.”
Univerersity students from the Home for the Needy, Uhogua. Some of them have already graduated
But in the midst of that he asserts; beautiful things came out from amongst them: lawyers, pharmacists, engineers and this strengthened their resolve in what they were doing.
Otherwise, it was really a tough year and everyone who helped to keep the residents alive is highly appreciated, the coordinator said.
“There were people going through tough times but they said they must not let us go down; yes, God used them to help us!“
However looking forward, he noted that all signs at the moment are pointing to something good to come forth in the year 2025.
“Thank God Edo State is having a better atmosphere now, everybody who has good intentions is no more afraid or wanting to run away from the State.”
All indices point to good things ahead, he reiterated.
In a reminiscence, Pst. Folorunsho described the last yuletide as the best ever had by residents of the Home for the Needy in a long while; disclosing the deputy governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa brought various food items a week before Christmas.
Also, the Senator representing the Edo South zone at the national Assembly, Neda Imasuen.
“So, we were able to cook during Christmas, I mean good food and the children ate to their satisfaction and even had left overs.”
Consequently, they decided to start the year with prayers thanking God for all the grace and mercies enjoyed; asking for His continued presence and never forgetting all those He had been using to make Himself manifest in their lives, Folorunsho stated.
In his message to the public and those in Government; “I want them to know first of all, there are different segments of people here; the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), orphans, widows and the vulnerable who are here due to one reason or the other.
“For everyone here, we want them to be happy and become better people in the next few years”, he asserts; adding that the ‘Home’ is expecting to have many more University graduates this year.
“This year we are going to have more graduates than last year in every field of life endeavour.
“Some of them are already doing their projects so I want to encourage them to continue to do what they have been doing, they should not give up.
“They are making the world to become a better place, making do nothing, people who have no hope, people who were written off, to become people to reckon with.
“So, I want to appeal that they should continue to support us, to keep investing in us and I call on others to join. If you were skeptical; now you know it is real!
“You might just walk into any hospital tomorrow and one of the children you doubted and never believed in, might just be the doctor handling your health issue.
“You may be having a legal suit tomorrow and one of the children you never believed in might just be the lawyer handling your case or the judge to preside.
“You may just have them as accountants helping our money to be secured in the bank, engineers building our houses and roads, we may never know; so let us join hands together to build the brighter future we envisage!
“I am appealing to the Government, everyone please help the needy!
“Please help pay fees, this is getting higher and books, because I have discovered that when you help educate one person, that one person can positively change the narrative of the entire community.
“So, let’s help educate people, let’s help the poor in society, please come help us here; this is a centre for excellence where achievers are made!”
Folorunsho passionately appeals to everyone to bring to the Home; food, clothing and all that is required to enable them live; in the midst of the many difficulties of life.
Pointing out that there is nothing too small, he said; “together, we will salvage the world and it will be a better place.”
Inspiration!
Asked what actually inspired him in the self imposed task, Folorunsho disclosed; “a lot, my birth, my upbringing; I was born a sick child, grew up a sick child and always beaten up in school and I was always afraid of everybody.
“Though brilliant, but very much afraid of everybody; thank God I became saved and even in the bible if you care for people like this, you are actually serving God!
“Again, within me, I just get satisfaction seeing people smile; people have asked me repeatedly what are you gaining? You can see the gain!
“Now turning somebody from a stark illiterate to become a medical doctor; what gain can be better than that? These are the gains; it gives me satisfaction!” (Laughs heartily).
