Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, the founder and General Overseer of the International Christian Church (Home for The Needy), Uhogua, in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, which houses the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp, is all smiles.
Pastor Folorunsho’s happiness is emanating from the good performance of his wards in the recent graduation ceremony of the Edo University, Uzairue, where ten of them came out in flying colours within the range of first class and second class upper division.
Fielding questions Pastor Folorunsho said: “I am happy because I always believe in these students and I believe that when given the opportunity, every human being can become the best in every given career in life.
“So, it is a great joy for me and everybody is beginning to see what this place is about and what we are doing here. We are giving moral training, educational training. We are loading them with knowledge, letting them know that the world is before them.
“They were brought here in order to change their lives for good. So, I am so happy, so so happy. There are more coming. Every year, they are making their papers. When you come here in the evening, you see them under the trees reading, studying and focusing very hard.
“With these results they are so inspired. Nobody is going to tell them now. They know that success is just the only thing left for them and they are ready to hit it high.
“This Home of the Needy can now be tagged a ‘Success Camp’. It is a success center established to bring success to lives that have failed, vulnerable lives, rejected lives, poor people and displaced ones too and that’s why it is called Home for the Needy.
“Everyone who has a need for education, need for home, need of parents, need of any kind, can come here to get it. It is truly a success center. We use love to achieve success here. We love them. There’s no big man here. Everyone is important. Everyone is equal.
“The love and care has placed everyone above segregation. The room I stay, everyone comes in freely. No tribal sentiment. We show God’s love to them. That’s the motivation.
“Another way of motivation is letting them know that whoever they see today in high places, is a product of hard work. So if they can work hard, they will achieve something. People come from all works of life to encourage them. These are great motivations.
“In another five years, Nigeria and the world will have a great harvest of intellectuals. We are training every profession here. Nigeria and the world is going to say thank you to the Home for the Needy because it is a fertile ground. Even the sports will say thank you to the Home of the Needy.
“You need to come here to see stars. Footballers, basketballers, netballers, table tennis players, handballers among others. Everyone is being groomed to become a success. So we are going to release to the world, the best.
“The school they just graduated from is quite expensive and we will love to put them in the best schools in the world. We just survive by donations from kind-hearted people volunteering to pay for one or more persons. Yes, the school is very expensive, but we sacrifice everything we have got.
“As you look at me now, I don’t even have a car. When some persons are asking me where they can come in, I simply let them know we have students they can cater for their academic needs. When the person picks that up, it gives me joy. So, we should not look at the costs, we should look at the future because when you want a developed society you have to sacrifice. You have to pay the price. So, that’s the price you’re seeing.
“You can imagine these young men who have come out with all the awards. What they will give to the world compared to what was spent on them. We shouldn’t look at the cost. We should give everybody the chance to be what he was created for.”
Going further, Pastor Folorunsho said that is inspiration to do charity work stems from his experience as a sickly child while growing up.
“Several times I attempted suicide because I hated myself. I wasn’t as smart as other children. I see children playing ball, I want to play but I cannot play like them. I will collapse. So many things were going on.
“But in my heart I will always say that if God is truly alive, if one day I am well, I am like others, I will not live to see anybody suffer. I will not live to see anybody go through what I went through. I will specially be there for children, for those that are in need. God did it. He saved me and brought me to be who I am today. I now began to see that truly…
“Like the Bible says ‘true religion is to care for the needy, especially the orphans, the weak and the widows. This is what motivates me. I like to see people smile. When somebody is smiling I am happy. When you are not smiling it hurts me especially if I can do something to make you happy and then I am not doing it. It makes me feel sick.
“That’s just the motivation. When I see those that are here(the Home for The Needy) smile, I tell them that is just what I want from them.”
On his expectations for the facility in a couple of years from now, Pastor Folorunsho said that he expects the place to wear a new look with modern day infrastructures and equipment in place.
“As far as there are persons that are in need this place will always be there for the needy. I expect persons, corporate bodies, the government will come and invest here and help others. Even when I am no more there I want this place to still be useful to mankind.”
He disclosed that something similar is being replicated in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.
Pastor Folorunsho stated that all are not rosy as about a hundred of the children have not joined their school mates over a month after resumption as they’re yet to pay up their fees.
On a parting note he appealed for more support in all areas especially in feeding as food is hard to come by in the IDPs Camp while also giving kudos to his support staff whose hardwork have contributed immensely to the success that’s being celebrated in the camp.
Our success story – IDPs Camp
