Pastor Jerry Eze opens orphanage in Abia, says every child deserves proper care
By Ogbonnaya Ikokwu
Umuahia
Popular gospel preacher Pastor Jerry Uchechukwu Eze has said that every child deserves proper care and guidance from parents, guardians and society at large.
Pastor Eze, host of the online prayer broadcast New Season Prophetic Prayer and Declaration across social media platforms, spoke on Saturday in Umuahia during the official opening of El Roi Orphanage Home, built by the Jerry Eze Foundation.
Describing childhood as a phase when a child’s hands are held by others for direction, the cleric said the orphanage aligns with his vision of raising a generation of God fearing children.
“My heart is full of joy. Everything about this orphanage tells the story of what I want to live for, which is to raise a generation that is still coming after us,” he said.
“It tells the story of someone holding your hands and walking you through life. I may not have lived in an orphanage, but at some point in my life I was cared for. My school fees were paid, my accommodation was provided while I was in the university, and people looked back and wondered. Dr Akanwa and his wife did me well.”
He vowed that children raised in the orphanage would receive the best possible care, adding that none would be adopted by people unable to offer them a better life.
“I told my wife that before any child raised here is handed over to others, we must be sure they will have a better life than they are having here. If they cannot provide a better life, we will not release the child,” he said.
He added that the facility would not be overcrowded, stressing his commitment to expanding it as the number of children grows.
“We are not going to do what others do by stocking children in small spaces. I am committed to making this bigger. It is a prophecy and it will come to pass,” he said.
Pastor Eze also urged Christians to commit their resources to initiatives that benefit others.
“Sometimes when people see how much you do for God, they think that is how much you have, but they do not know that there is a covenant with God that says you do not keep what He gives you,” he said. “You are only a steward of God’s resources, so release them into what works.”
Also speaking, NSPPD co host Pastor Eno Jerry said the idea of establishing an orphanage stemmed from her childhood experiences with motherless babies, when her local church in Nsukka, Enugu State, organised welfare outreaches for orphans.
She said El Roi Orphanage was created to address challenges often seen in orphanage homes, including poor infrastructure, hygiene issues and the attitude of caregivers.
According to her, the orphanage is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Ministry of Women Affairs in Abia State.
“It is a dream I had while growing up because I often visited motherless babies’ homes with my church. I developed a deep love for children and continued even as an adult, sometimes using my savings to buy Christmas gifts for them,” she said.
“But whenever I visited orphanages, I was not happy with what I saw. Many were dirty and poorly kept. I told myself that if I ever had my own, it would be different. Everything we have here now is based on that vision.”
She said the project gained momentum last August after a period of prayer, when she shared the idea with her husband, who immediately supported it.
“In collaboration with the Jerry Eze Foundation, this is how it came to be,” she said.
Pastor Eno added that the orphanage welcomes support from individuals and organisations willing to partner with it to achieve its goals.
“This is a huge task, and we welcome those who want to support us,” she said.