By Ademola Aderemi
A Lagos-based non-governmental organisation, Goldcrest Family Centre (GCFC) recently rolled out the drums to celebrate its 21st anniversary.
The event was also an avenue for the GCFC to put smiles on the faces of widows and vulnerable children across the state.
For over 20 years, Goldcrest Family Centre has been involved in various humanitarian activities, including widows’ empowerment programmes, free health and medical summits holding in September of every year across Lagos and Ogun States. It also has students’ education and sports development programmes.
President of the Goldcrest Family Centre, Reverend Agatha Chukwura said she was happy that though the journey was challenging, it was in fulfilment of God’s purpose for widows and vulnerable children.
“The last two decades of the journey was challenging, but it was also very interesting because God took over from us and blessed us with people that are ready to give and support the vision.
“That is why we have been able to impact the lives of more than a million widows and vulnerable children across Lagos and Ogun States in the last two decades.
“Every year, we take a holistic approach by organizing several empowerment programmes for the widows. We teach them several vocational skills, like soap and bead making, hair-dressing and fashion designing and we give a little token as start up capital for them to begin their respective businesses.
“We also provide free medical facilities across Lagos and Ogun States. We bring to their door steps free medical programmes that could help in curing and also preventing ailments that are associated with old age. The indigent students are also on scholarship. We have a good number of brilliant and indigent students that have benefitted from our student educational development programmes from the basic school, secondary and up to the university.
“I thank our directors, stakeholders, members of the GCFC family and all those that have found me worthy of being their ambassador for the past 21 years and still trusting God that the journey is still ongoing,” she stated.
Dr Olufemi Paul, founding Chairman of Goldcrest Family Centre, said the organisation has been bridging the gap by providing opportunities and impacting the lives of widows positively as well as the vulnerable children.
“Widows are the endangered species in our society. But they are also the wives of the most high God and He is always happy when we support them by giving them hope to actualise their dreams.
“So what Goldcrest Family Centre is doing is a project that is in tandem with the words of God and I am happy to be part of this family,” he said.
Mrs Bose Ogunsanwo said she was excited to be part of the success story of the Goldcrest Family Centre, describing it as a divine assignment from God.
“I am happy that Mummy Chukwura is doing well with the God’s project. Apart from widows and vulnerable children, GCFC under her leadership is also fulfilling the destiny of so many people.
“There is also an annual seminar organized for teachers in Lagos State. GCFC is so passionate about all the programmes which are meant to impact the society positively.”
Mrs Fadiya Oluwaseyi, one of the widows, said the leadership of GCFC had really helped them in finding their feet after the loss of their breadwinners.
She said the Goldcrest Family Centre had always come to the rescue of widows during difficult moments.
As part of the 21st anniversary programme, the GCFC team later showed the documentary of the past activities of the organization in the last two decades, featuring the children educational programmes, teachers seminars, free medical outreach, widows empowerment programmes, and the weekly fellowship spiritual rejuvenation of the widows.
The event came alive with the cutting of the anniversary cake, dances and distribution of foodstuff, including bags of rice, clothes and cash gifts for the widows at the ceremony.
Dignitaries at the event include wife of the current Chairman of GCFC, Mrs Olufunmilayo Fadeni, Dr Olukayode Sanni, Chika Balogun, Mr.Abiodun
Olufemi Onalaja, MrsBinta Max Gbinije, Mrs.Agatha Amata, Mr Jude Chiemeka, Madam Christie and Mrs Bose Ogunsanwo, among others.