Why I built an orphanage in memory of my grandmother- Senator Yar’adua

A former Senator representing Katsina Central Senatorial District, Abubakar Saddique Yar’adua has said he built an orphanage in memory of his grandmother because of how he watched her care for orphans and Almajirai as a child.

Arewa Trust Weekly reports that the orphanage and a primary school were handed over to an Islamic organisation; Jama’atu Izalatul Bidia’ah Wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS) for management.

The Senator, who spoke with our correspondent when he visited the orphanage and the primary school said: “I grew up with my grandmother who used to milk cows and sell in the city. Whenever she returned from the market, she would use the proceeds to provide food to orphans and Al-majirai. She often advised me to do the same when I grow older even though at that time, I did not comprehend why she was doing it.”

The senator added that his grandmother, Hajiya Mariya was a widow with three children adding that she had struggled to cater for them.

“By the time I grew up, I understood what she was doing and why she was doing it. Having realised that whatever one gets, is from the society and there was a need to give back to the society, I decided to put this orphanage, thereby giving back to the society and to fulfill the dream of my grandmother,” he said.

He said he incorporated a school in the orphanage to ensure that the orphans receive western and religious education adding that the orphanage, which has the capacity to cater for 300 orphans would be expanded to cater for 1,000 orphans as well as include a secondary school.

In his address, the national leader of Jama’atu Izalatul Bidia’ah Wa Ikamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), Sheikh Bala Lau urged the Katsina state government to take responsibility for the teachers. He said building an orphanage was a rewarding charity and called on well-to-do Muslims to emulate the project.

Also, the state Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, said the education and care of orphaned children and other destitute was a collective responsibility, hence the need for everyone to make contributions.