ChariLove Founder, Omusi Decries Neglect Of Less Privileged Children

The Founder of ChariLove Centre, Ossiomo, Chris Omusi, has decried the dire conditions faced by the less privileged children of the Centre and the failure of government to provide them with basic educational support.
Omusi, who expressed his displeasure at a press briefing in Benin City, said, “Ossiomo is certainly the poorest of the poor community in Edo State and, perhaps, in Nigeria. The place has continued to witness a circle of poverty stricken generations. And the only way an end can be put to this is through proper education off the children.
“Very sadly, this is what the children are systematically deprived of through the culpable lack of teachers in their school. One of the several sad side effects of such negligence is to make such community eternally poor and a breeding ground for “out-of-school” children and who, consequently, become easily trafficked children and miscreants.
“I call on government at all levels to mean well by placing premium emphasis on the qualitative education of the children of the poor in order to break the circle of poverty amongst them. The government primary school at Ossiomo deserves the best of attention.
“The FUTURE of those children at Ossiomo and, of course, all such side-lined children, means a whole lot more to me than any relationship with governments or authorities,” he added.
Omusi stated that the deplorable state of the primary school in Ogan community, Orhiomwhon Local Government Area, which was established in 1933 with the mission of educating the children of one of the poorest communities in Edo State has defeated the purpose of establishing the school.
He said the school that was once a beacon of hope, now barely functions with only two teachers, down from three the previous year, to handle nine classrooms of eager but neglected pupils.
He said the situation is compounded by the fact that the headmistress, who also served as the local Nigerian Union of Teachers chairperson, is often unavailable due to other engagements.
He said the students also lack learning materials and the school was woefully underfunded, creating an environment where these children, most of whom come from impoverished backgrounds, struggle to attain even the most basic education.
Omusi said, “How can two teachers manage nine classrooms and expect the children to ever reach their full potential?” Omusi questioned, urging both the government and concerned citizens to prioritise the children’s education and well-being.
“The crisis at Ossiomo does not exist in isolation. Charilove Centre, founded by Omusi in 2005 to care for vulnerable children and individuals, faces its own battles.
“Originally established to take children off the streets, particularly those whose parents were ex-leprosy patients begging on highways, Charilove’s efforts to rehabilitate these families have gone largely unrecognised by the government.
“In fact, the Centre has become a last resort for mentally challenged individuals, often abandoned at its doors by authorities without any support or funding.”
He disclosed that, ChariLove was designed to as a demonstration center for special education, skill acquisition and moral and ethical orientation outfit for children and youths living with disabilities and special challenges.
“The primary target group is those who have the capacity to learn and, so, should not be left behind or aside to waste away as prisoners in their homes or as outcasts and beggars on the streets.
“ChariLove’s aim is to bring them to identify their talents and assist them to develop the talents and move on to become the best they are capable of being in life,” he explained.