CESVHOC donates items to vulnerable orphans in Zamfara
By Sanusi Muhammad, Gusau
Hundreds of orphaned children in Zamfara State have benefited from donations of clothing, learning materials, school bags, soaps, and other essential items provided by the Center for Supporting Vulnerable Households, Women and Children (CESVHOC) as part of activities marking International World Orphans Day.
This year’s celebration was held with the theme: “For Our Children’s Future: End War, Embrace Peace, and Restore a Greener World.” The event took place at the Gusau Emir’s Palace.
Speaking during the occasion, the Executive Director and Founder of CESVHOC, Hajiya Farida Abdulrazak Tigana, said the gesture was aimed at supporting orphans and widows who often struggle to meet the basic needs of their children.
“Children are the most valuable gifts from Almighty Allah—blessings that no amount of wealth can buy,” she said. “In Islam, an orphan (Yateem) is any child who has lost his or her father before reaching maturity, while according to UNICEF, an orphan is any child under 18 years who has lost one or both parents to any cause of death.”
Hajiya Farida noted that millions of children across the world have become orphans due to war, famine, poverty, disease, natural disasters, and displacement.
Citing UNICEF statistics, she said there are currently 153 million orphans worldwide, with about 17 percent residing in Nigeria.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, between March 2020 and April 2021, an estimated 1.13 million children lost their primary caregivers globally, while about three million children were newly orphaned during that period,” she added.
The CESVHOC founder also revealed that the organization plans to visit selected hospitals in Gusau metropolis to provide medical assistance to patients. She further disclosed that the foundation is currently sponsoring the education of several vulnerable children in both Western and Islamiyya schools.
Over the years, thousands of vulnerable children and households have benefited from the foundation’s various empowerment programs, including farming and tailoring initiatives.
In separate goodwill messages, former Chairman of Gusau Local Government Sheikh Aminu Aliyu Modibbon Gusau, Malam Yusuf Sabo Tsafe from the Zamfara State House of Assembly, and Malama Hadiza Maharazu spoke on the Islamic significance of caring for orphans.
“Let us remember the saying of Prophet Muhammad (SAW): ‘The one who cares for an orphan and I will be together in Paradise like this,’” Malama Hadiza quoted, holding up two fingers side by side.
They called on the Muslim Ummah to emulate such charitable acts, emphasizing that assisting orphans is among the greatest deeds that bring a person closer to Almighty Allah and earns honor in the Hereafter.
One of the beneficiaries, Khadija Sani, expressed heartfelt appreciation and prayed for Allah to reward the founder and her team.
In his remarks, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello (II), commended CESVHOC for its humanitarian efforts and described the initiative as a demonstration of strong commitment to ensuring that orphans in the state have access to education and a sense of belonging.
He also urged residents of the Gusau Emirate to emulate the gesture by supporting orphans, the less privileged, and persons living with disabilities.
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