– Hope out of hopelessness

By Charles Anyasi & Yemi Babalola

“I want to join the Air Force so as to protect my country against war.”

That was the soft but sincere and affirmative response from 14 year old Bayo (real name withheld), a Primary six pupil and youngest member of the GRACE SPRINGS REHABILITATION HOME housing a couple of boys under the auspices of The Missions Department of The Fountain of Life church. Bayo was responding to questions from reporters of Fountain Newsletter who underwent a guided observatory tour of the home on Friday, August 20, 2010. 

Before year 2008, Bayo could not have dreamt of a future position in the nation’s Air Force, his young vision having been blurred by the abrupt death of his father in an automobile accident. After the death of his father, Bayo was thrown into confusion as he moved from Lagos Mainland to Badagry and from there to Ijebu and then back to Lagos Mainland. All that the future presented was a brick wall. However, since his father was a member of the Fountain of Life Church before his death, his case soon got to the Church authorities who took over his welfare as well as that of his elder brother, Toyin in 2008. That was how life began to make meaning again to the boys.

Prior to the intervention of the Church in 2008, Toyin had taken to the streets, savouring the ungainly ways of the Area Boys under the Oshodi Bridge. Today, Bayo and Toyin are having a glorious dance to the beautiful tunes filtering from destiny’s unseen orchestra. Bayo, obviously the favourite of the 19 boys currently inhabiting the home, is a bundle of joy as he jostles among his elders, while Toyin, headed for SSS3 looks on with high hopes for a life of fulfillment.

Nineteen year-old Fola (full names withheld) equally saw the future from a dim perspective a few years ago before his destiny was re-ordered. Steeped in alcoholism and tobacco, and co-habiting with the dregs under the bridge at the infamous Oshodi Bus Stop, Fola spent each passing day thinking of only two things - death and the final destination, Hell. But one glorious morning in 2004, the irresistible aroma of rice served by officials of the Missions Department of TFOLC served as bait for Fola who began his salvation journey after accepting Jesus Christ along with the plate of rice. Today, Fola is optimistically looking forward to exploring life through the rare combination of philosophy and entertainment. Fola’s eloquence in speech lends sufficient credence to his great ambition.

Grace Springs Rehabilitation Home, located opposite the Voice of Nigeria (VON)Transmitting Station, along the undulating and murky Ibeshe Road in Ikorodu, is a beehive of activities for this group of boys whose hitherto hopeless lives are being gradually but steadily transformed. Bearing the mantle for the boys are two dedicated housemasters; Mr. Babatunde Ibironke who was employed last February and Mr. Michael Madukari who is spending his second month. In the company of Mrs. Omolara Ogunbosi, Administrator of the home, Fountain Newsletter reporters dutifully talked and worked with the boys in their bungalow-home for the better half of the day.

Among the boys, different talents abound. Mukaila (now Michael), an orphan whose parents were Muslims before their passage, has found new hope, and aspires to rule the sprint world even as he inspires his colleagues with his musical talents. Led by Mukaila and a few others, the home is alive in the little hours of every morning with soul-searching music as they lend their talents in worship. Every Sunday, a Minister travels from The Fountain of Life Church in the company of members of the Missions Department to minister to the boys.

Isaac (formerly Azeez), whose exceptional disciple has earned him the role of head boy, is a delight to watch as he commands the respect of all, including their affectionate housemasters. The neatness of their three dormitories which parade about twenty beds in double bunk arrays speaks volumes. Each day, one of the boys in each dormitory is mandated through a wall roaster to meticulously clean up the dormitory. Even their toilet and bath seem to echo the in-house credo - “Be responsible”.

In order to instil greater discipline, the boys are routinely reminded of the dos and don’ts by their housemasters. They are, for instance, allowed neither the use of telephones nor the possession of personal cash. For the boys, it is a communal life where everyone is his brother’s keeper.

The boys are allowed the full expression of their talents in their chosen hobbies. Seventeen-year old Aaron gave the visiting reporters an impressionable lecture on his rich collection of rabbits immediately after their inspection of the pen housing some identical cockerels which displayed bonding with Onyinye when he fed them from a bowl of feeds.

Life is made easier for the boys with the presence of a 2.5 KVA generating set which supplies alternative light, in addition to PHCN electricity, as well as pumps water into three 750 litre tankers from a borehole for their daily use.

At the kitchen, Tosin is ready to tickle his colleagues with his cooking prowess any day. The boys do their cooking in the kitchen and retire to the fairly large sitting room / dining annex to eat as they watch a TV set (on which rests a video machine) strapped in a metal cage to the wall whose other three angles bear painted landscapes.

Between the hours of 5.00pm to 5.25pm, the boys mandatorily observe their siester, after which they settle down to study in a nearby library equipped with books on various subjects. However, at holiday periods, siester is observed between the hours of 12.00pm and 2.00pm. For Tolulope who joined the home in 2007, having been picked off at Oshodi Bus Stop, “the future is getting better.” The glint in Mrs. Ogunbosi’s eyes was beyond description when the boys thundered their “yes” in unison while responding to a question from one of the reporters; Do you love Aunty Lara?” For adequate career guide, each boy is allocated a mentor from The Fountain of Life Church. These mentors occasionally visit the Home for the purpose of counselling.

A fishery project is currently being developed. Already, some fish harvesting has been done by the boys.

A trip, later in the day, to distant Erunwen Road, Off Awolowo Way, in the same Ikorodu axi showed more of the mettle the boys are made of. A one-acre farmland donated by a member of The Fountain of Life Church, is under cultivation by the boys who have been harvesting maize, cassava and vegetables.  The goal of the home handlers is to be self sufficient through the farm project.

SETTING UP THE HOME: THE JOURNEY SO FAR

The home took off in 2004 with 50 boys, and is now registered with the Corporate Affairs Commision and the welfare Dept of Ikorodu Local Govt Area.

Earlier in 2002 when The Fountain of Life church began the rehabilitation campaign, Child Life Line Centre, Ibeshe, Ikorodu, run by Mrs. Marion Sikuade was approached to accommodate 7 children picked up from Oshodi. The Church supported with upkeep allowance every month.

In 2003, 20 boys were taken to The Glorious Star Primaary / Secondary School in Otta, Ogun State. The school admitted the boys on scholarship upon realising that these were boys whose parents were not ready to support. Worse still, the boys did not even want to return home due to societal prejudice.

In 2004 when the need arose for a home in order to respond to the increased number of the children, a bungalow was rented in Ikorodu. Consequently, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya ordered the relocation of the boys from Otta and Child Life Line Centre to the Home for easy coordination. Some of the boys in Child life Centre resisted movement. Those who were ready were relocated alongside some boys from Oshodi. Thereafter, some 20 of the boys returned to the streets. Ten others from Oshodi joined. Nineteen were reconciled to their parents after a lot of counselling. In 2005, one boy graduated with an OND certificate from the School of Survey, Oyo State. The young man eased himself out of the Home and has been on his own ever since. Another boy who is mentally retarded was taken to Eruobodo House Society ( a Special Home) in Ijebu Ode and he has been doing well there since 2007.

In 2009 five boys graduated from the secondary school, while one gained admission to Yaba College of Technology to study Business Administration and another to the University of Ado Ekiti to study Psychology.

Three of the secondary school graduates are working currently, out of whom two are seeking admissions to the University while one is to re-write his school certificate examination in September 2010.

Recently in 2010, five boys wrote their SSCE, JAMB and Post UME examinations, and are currently preparing for their GCE exams by September 2010. These boys will be graduated from the home and reconciled with their parents in November 2010. The remaining 14 boys are in different classes; one in Primary school, 4 in JSS and 9 in SSS.

The home (including a vacant plot), which now functions as a Non Governmental Organisation, has finally been purchased by the Church.