Warm heart, sweet home
for the aged
By Jossy Idam (jidam 14@yahoo.com)
Saturday,
October 21, 2006
 |
•Alero
Photo By Sun News Publishing |
|
With the harsh socio-cultrual and economic realities starring
Nigerians on the face, not every old person in the country
can afford to retire to the loving embrace of his children
and home.
Before now and in the traditional setting, the aged used to
be blissfully ensconced in the tender care of their families.
The romantic image is that of an old person sitting by a fireside
and regaling his grand children with folk tales.
Another ideal, sweet image is that of an aged warrior looking
at a russet setting sun, holding court in his large living
room, dishing out words of wisdom and recalling his valiant
deeds.
To the fortunate ones, aging could still be studded with pleasant
reveries, surprises, and smooth passage. But with the downward
spiral of the nation’s economy and the crumbling of
family ties and traditional social safety nets, it is no more
uncommon to see old people in street corners of the nation’s
major cities begging for alms.
Touched by this sad sights, a pretty woman in her 40s, Alero
Hans elected herself to be catering for some of them in Lagos.
Her tight schedule as an operator in the finance sector as
a wife and mother, notwithstanding, she still squeezes out
time to reach out to them. For her, caring for the old, giving
them a shoulder to lean on began as a pastime before becoming
a commitment. Hear her: “I first began in my church,
neighbourhood, Old People’s Home in Yaba, Lagos and
wherever I see a needy old person. They shouldn’t be
neglected like this. They need love and care”.
Turning point
The fifth child in a family of six, Alero had a close attachment
to her mother, Mrs. Alice Bassey Edukugho. Not that her other
siblings cared less, she undertook the caring for mum until
she passed on. Living with her old mother opened her eyes
to what aging is and the needs of old people. “There
was my mum, a tough disciplinarian yet loving. She was from
the Henshaw family in Cross River State. Before she died,
I discovered that old people need a lot of affection, nursing
and reassurance-almost like children. Now when I see old people
not being taken care of, I feel bad. They were once useful.
It isn’t right for them to be neglected and abandoned”,
she said.
As though she alone can stem the tide, she began going around
with food packs, clothes, medicines and money for old, needy
people she might run into. Indigent old people around the
streets of Lagos are familiar with her car. Her name, ALERO
is boldly written on her car’s number plate. The sides
of it are emblazoned with Ronnie-Alice Memorial Foundation.
Behind the name
As she told Saturday Sun, the name Ronnie
–Alice is a memento to the cherished memory of her elder
brother, Shola Ronnie Edukugho who died in America in 1999
and her mother, Alice.
“My brother, Ronnie was a big brother in the real sense
of the word. He gave without holding back. As for my mum,
she gave me the Bible as a parting gift and told me to follow
the dictates of the holy book. In summary, the holy book says
Christians should give succour to the needy. That’s
what I’m doing”, she said.
Early prompting
Alero’s early romance with charity started with a pet
project she tentatively called “Trash to Treasure”.
The idea crystallized when she realized that in her home,
she had a lot of items she didn’t really need-clothes,
shoes in closets, furniture, appliances and food. She simply
found out that such items, when given out, gladdened the hearts
of those who don’t have. Years back in a Trem Church
Conference, she claims God told her she was a “Distribution
centre” for the needy in society.
Supported by her husband, Victor Hans, family and friends,
she launched regular street and home visit to needy old people.
She even celebrated her last birthday with the aged in the
Old People’s Home at Yaba. Asked why, she said: “They
are fascinating to be with. They are mostly sincere and open-minded.
Their prayers are heart-warming. We shouldn’t base life
on material things alone. The spiritual is also important”.
Ultra modern complex
Her modest efforts over the years have now given way to an
Ultra modern complex. The N50 million project is located at
Plot 15, Road 2, Isheri North, Lagos. The complex now boasts
of an administrative block and a hall of residence named after
the Lagos State governor’s wife, Chief (Mrs.) Oluremi
Tinubu. When completed, the complex will have aerobic centre,
cable TV, elegant furnishings and beautiful surroundings.
With an ever-growing support team, the structure has the capacity
for 100 house-mates. The main block, according to Alero, will
be named after Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.
Launching
To formally flag off this laudable project and raise money
to complete the ultra modern complex, government functionaries,
corporate bodies and well-meaning Nigerians gathered at Eko
Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos and responded positively.
The place is modelled after the ones the NGO’s chairperson,
Alero, has visited and understudied abroad.
|
