Former Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor on Cocoa Development and Control, Dr. Oscar Ofuka, has called for greater societal support for the welfare of vulnerable children so they can compete favorably with their peers.

Ofuka made the appeal on Wednesday after donating food items and toiletries worth millions of naira to the Motherless Babies Home Uwanse, in Calabar.

Speaking in the presence of the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Social Development, represented by State Director Mrs. Obeten Kokomo David, Ofuka said he saw strong potential among the inmates.

“I want to use this opportunity to appeal to government at all levels to ensure that whatever they are doing, they should always help the social dreads, give priority attention to those who are not sure where their next meal would come from,” he stated.

Ofuka explained that celebrating his 64th birthday with the children of the orphanage was intentional. “The choice of this home is because I know that there are children here who do not have parents but have potentials to be great and need to be tnutured.

“And God has raised people to take care of these ones. It’s just because of misplaced priority,” he said. Describing the day as emotional, he added, “I’m here to mark my birthday.

Which means I’m one year old today. Today’s event is special to me and unique in the sense that I woke up thinking about the children. Because I have them at heart.”

He praised the caregivers for keeping the environment clean and serene, noting the children appeared better cared for than many on the streets.

“I want to thank all those who are taking care of this place because it looks very beautiful, the grasses are clean, the environment is serene, the children are well taken care of,” he said, adding he was willing to give his last resources to meet their needs.

Ofuka also commended Governor Bassey Otu and former Governor Prof. Benedict Ayade for supporting the needy.

He highlighted his own role under Ayade in driving the “cocoa revolution” by reforming the sector, recovering land, and establishing plantations including the CRBC model farm and the 1,800-hectare plantation in Aking Osomba. He warned that disobedience to court orders leads to “political decay” and stressed, “we need to obey the rule of law, stand firm and abide by the decisions of the judiciary.”

Concluding, Ofuka said the children have leadership potential and deserve continued support. “Most of these ones you are seeing here are great men and women with a lot of potentials who, if they are nurtured to grow very well, will become leaders of tomorrow.

“So we must do everything humanly possible to ensure that we give them life, we give them hope, we cherish them like our own children,” he concluded.