Chinese firm donates home to Edo Catholic orphanage

A stakeholder of the company during the handover. Photo: The Guardian

Edo State-based Chinese company, Yongxing Steel Company, has donated a building meant for an orphanage to the Catholic Church-owned Charity Home for the Needy.

At a ceremony to formally hand over the facility to the church in Benin City at the weekend, a representative of the company, Hazel Han, said the situation in the charity home was brought to the company’s notice by the Edo State Office of the First Lady.

She said the company visited the facility and saw its state and immediately swung into action by purchasing a new building, which was refurbished to meet the needs of the orphans and their carers.

She said, “Yongxing visited the old home to understand the situation. We saw the condition of the building where the children were living and learned that they had been given notice to vacate the property.

“We felt that the children needed more than temporary assistance. They needed a safe and decent place they could call home. This led Yongxing Steel Company to take the decision to provide a new home for them.

“Yongxing Steel Company has constructed, furnished and equipped this home with essential facilities, including furniture, a generator and other necessary items within our capacity.

“The building and facilities are being handed over to the Catholic Charity Home for the Needy free of charge. There is no rent attached to this donation.

“We hope that this place will provide the children with security, comfort, dignity and an environment where they can learn, grow and build a better future.”

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Han said the project represented Yongxing Steel Company’s commitment to supporting vulnerable members of society and making a meaningful difference in our community.

Speaking on behalf of the Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Mrs Edesili Okpebholo-Anani, wife of the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Nimata Ikhilor, commended the gesture.

“It is a celebration of compassion, a celebration of partnership, a celebration of humanity and a celebration of hope,” she said.

The Principal of the Home, Rev Mother Mary Ebewu, said they were shocked after their request to the Chinese company through the office of the First Lady got a pleasant response.

She said before the donation of the facility, the home had received the biggest volume of donations of food items from the same company.

The Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Benin. Very Rev Fr. Michael Oyanoafoh commended Governor Monday Okkpebholo for creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive in the state and called on other companies and individuals to emulate the corporate social responsibility nature of the Chinese firm.