Kogi State: With The Support of The Commissioner, I Visited The Orphanage

Sola Opesan Brown & Hon.Olowomoran

I sent a message to The Commissioner for Culture and Tourism of Kogi State of Nigeria, Barrister Hon. Olowomoran that, he should please find an orphanage that I can support, with a little token of donation; for him it was not a difficult thing to do, since he has the same culture of supporting the less privileged, and also he has a particular orphanage that he regularly supports. I was officially invited to the state for a purpose, but for me, my purpose will be incomplete without giving a little bit of me to the children.

I got to Kogi, I fell in love with the people; very interesting, calm, loving and peaceful people. I enjoyed every second there, for me my mission will not be satisfying without visiting the orphanage. A night before was a Friday, the Hon. Commissioner and myself packed everything neatly. A down to earth man, calm and very humble; nothing upsets him, he knows how to handle the toughest person on earth, he can soften a stone with the words of his mouth...very diplomatic and genuine. He's highly committed, and does everything with passion.

An Orphanage carer, Hon. Olowomoran, Pa Olotu and Sola Opesan Brown

On Saturday morning, we set out to go after the day's event, but we must stop by at the Orphanage first; we were excited to see the children and also the senior-carer/founder of the orphanage we arrived at Margaret Garba Ohiani Orhanage/less privileged Home; we saw party canopies in preparation for an event, few people were already sat. We approached the first person that crossed our path, it was a man, "where is Mama please"; oh mama is dead, today is her funeral, I will call her younger brother to attend to you" he said. We were perplexed, the commissioner and myself didn't know what to say at that moment, instantly sadness was shown on her faces and we became very calm in a very solemn moment, I was thinking about life, I'm sure same thing was on the commissioner's mind.

The brother of Mama, Pa Samuel Olotu came, he greeted us, he confirmed Mama's death, we discussed for few minutes, then we signed the book of Condolence and also the donation book, we presented our donation and we parted by saying, "goodbye, may mama's soul rest in peace"

Hon. Olowomoran signing the book of Condolence at the Orphanage

Mama Margaret Garba Ohiani was the founder of Margaret Garba Ohiani Orhanage, she was born in Ogori in Ogori/Magongo LGA, Kogi State on the 23rd of June 1934. Between 1963-1966 she was the typist/Secretary at Nigeria Air force, North central State (now Kaduna State), she also worked as the Personal Secretary to the Attorney General in Kaduna State (1981- 1983).

She established  Margaret Garba Ohiani Orhanage/less privileged Home in 2004, the first Orphanage Home in Kogi State. Mama was a philanthropist, lover of children and a disciplinarian. Mama aged 81, she was married to Late Hon. Joseph Garba Ohiani and was blessed with four children, grandchildren and grandchild.


I pray her legacy will live on.
Let all of us give back to humanity, no matter how small it might be; it warms the heart.