On the 15th of March, Waafah Children’s Home held its 3rd Annual Ramadan Lecture at its premises on Stadium Road, Taiwo, Ilorin. The lecture, titled “Challenges Facing Orphans in Islam: A Case Study of Islamic Orphanages in Yorubaland,” brought together Islamic scholars, stakeholders, and well-wishers to discuss the pressing issues surrounding orphan care within the Muslim community.
This comes just a week after the second lecture in the series, further reinforcing Waafah’s commitment to raising awareness about the welfare of orphans.
The program began with a Quranic recitation by children from the orphanage, who delivered a heartwarming performance. The keynote lecture was delivered by Dr. Abdulganiy Alikali (Abu Royyan), who provided an in-depth analysis of the availability of Islamic orphanages across Yorubaland. He pointed out the alarming reality that Lagos, despite being home to a significant Muslim population, has only one Islamic orphanage. He also highlighted similar challenges in Ogun, parts of Kogi, sections of Niger, Oyo, and Osun, stressing that the number of Islamic orphanages in these areas is inadequate.
Dr. Alikali further addressed the struggles faced by existing orphanages in Ilorin, particularly financial constraints and a lack of consistent sponsorship. He commended organizations like FOMWAN for establishing Islamic orphanages in Osun and other states but emphasized that more needs to be done. “Muslim philanthropists must support orphan care. It is a noble cause that carries immense reward, and we must not leave it to a few individuals or organizations,” he said. He called on major Islamic associations in Nigeria including Ansar-ud-Deen Society, NASFAT, Tijaniyyah, Sufi, and Salafi groups to step up and contribute meaningfully to the cause.
Dr. Alikali also praised the founder of Waafah Children’s Home, Alhaja Rukayat Olagunju, for her selfless commitment to orphan care. He recognized the sacrifices she has made to ensure the well-being of the children and appreciated the unwavering support of her husband, who has encouraged her humanitarian efforts. He urged others to emulate their kindness, emphasizing that the care of orphans is a responsibility that should be embraced by all.
Before the lecture session, the Secretatry of Waafah Children’s Home, Haji Nafisah led attendees on a tour of the facility, sharing the story behind its establishment. She recounted how the founder, Alhaja Rukayat, was deeply moved by an incident where a baby was abandoned by the roadside. Instead of rushing to help, onlookers stood around recording videos. Unable to ignore the situation, she picked up the baby and took the child to the nearest Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) office, expressing her intention to place the baby in an orphanage.
Despite searching extensively for a Muslim-run orphanage, she found none and had no choice but to take the baby to a government orphanage. She continued visiting the child regularly until she was informed that the baby had been adopted. While she was happy that the child had found a home, she was saddened to learn that the adoptive family was Christian. This moment became a turning point for her, strengthening her resolve to establish an Islamic orphanage where Muslim orphans could be raised in an environment rooted in Islamic values.
The Ramadan lecture concluded with prayers and a renewed call for collective action.