Islamic Orphanage Foundation (IOF) in Ilorin, Kwara State has sponsored educational activities of over 560 orphans since it was established in 2002.

Speaking at its 2013 Orphans Day in Ilorin, recently, the chairman of the organisation, Seifullahi Alege, said the body was responsible for the training of the children in its care from nursery to the completion of their tertiary education.

"The orphanage started in 2002. We started with just 10 children. Generally, the number of orphans including those who have graduated from one tertiary institution or the other, we can boast of 560," he said.

The chairman of the orphanage said that its major project at hand was the building of a N250 million centre, which he said would house school, vocational centre and hospital.

He also said that the centre, when completed would take care of the children whose mother died during birth and other orphaned infants.

"Also, we want to have a central mosque at the centre. So far, we have started with five classrooms and the hall.

Alege, who said the major challenge before the organisation was the herculean financial task each time the children are beginning new session in the secondary school, saying "it is always tasking as we pay for the whole session at a go.

"However, we survive by the goodwill of Nigerians and even people in the Diaspora. It is through the press assistance that we are afloat. On the whole, we have 252 children in our care, apart from those going to vocational centres.

Also speaking at the event, a widow, Hajia Fatima Garuba, commended the management of the orphanage for complementing  government's efforts.

She said that government should try as much as possible to assist them, saying, "we don't know what these children will become in future. I feel excited. I am so happy; in fact, I don't know what to say."

In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Works and Transport, Alhaji Alabi Amuda, praised members of the foundation for a wonderful job, adding that orphans need to be educated; and to be fed.