July 13, 2014 - Reported newtelegraphonline.com. Eight orphaned pupils finish from school. The joy of eight children who have been inmates of an orphanage established in Umuagbedo-Agu, a remote community in Igbo- Eze North Council Area, Enugu State, by Anambra State-born Stigmatist, Rev. Sister Martina Oforka, knew no bounds on Friday, as they moved up the ladder at their Divine Wounds Schools in the community. One of them, Johnpaul Okonkwo, 13, who hails from Imo State was said to have been picked up as an abandoned baby in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He wore his graduation gown on Friday, having concluded his primary education as the school celebrated the orphans.

Another of the children identified as two-year-old Chidera was said to have been abandoned by her mentally challenged mother. She graduated from the nursery one section of the school and for those who knew her life history, she was the cynosure of all eyes. Speaking to New Telegraph on Sunday on the import of the occasion graced by a huge crowd of pilgrims and natives, the proprietress of the school who also runs the Divine Wounds Apostolate, said it has been a fulfilling experiencing picking up abandoned babies, orphans and the less-privileged and working to nurture them to greatness.

She explained that there are over 70 inmates of her orphanage while the group of schools comprising nursery, primary and secondary sections have a population of over 200 pupils and students. According to the Stigmatist, who hails from Oraifite in Anambra State, among the inmates of her orphanage are children whose mothers had attempted to abort their pregnancies before she was alerted and succeeded in stalling their planned action. She said, “Inmates in this category would be handed over to their mothers after they would have been educated to enable them to effectively grapple with the larger society, irrespective of the circumstances of their births.” She called on governments at all levels, especially in Enugu State, to come to the aid of the school in the provision of infrastructure. She explained that the curriculum of the school emphasises skills acquisition in view of the social realities staring the orphans in the face after graduation.

July 16, 2014 - Reported newtelegraphonline.com. Frills as school graduates orphans in Enugu. The joy of eight children, who are inmates of an orphanage home, Divine Wounds Schools, established in Umuagbedo-Agu, a rural community in Igbo-Eze North Council Area of Enugu State, knew no bounds last week as they bade farewell to their teachers and other peers. It was at the graduation ceremony of the school, held at the school established by an Anambra State-born Stigmatist, Reverend Sister Martina Oforka.

Some of the graduating pupils, who dressed in their graduation gowns and a cap to match and were basking in the euphoria of their completion of their primary school education include 13-year-old Johnpaul Okonkwo from Imo State; twoyear- old Chidera, who graduated from the nursery one session was the cynosure of all eyes as a result of her exemplary performance. Speaking to New Telegraph on the significance of the ceremony which attracted some dignitaries including community leaders, the Proprietress of the school, who also owns the Divine Wound Apostolate said it has been a fulfilling experiencing picking up abandoned babies, orphans and the lessprivileged and working to nurture them into greatness.

She explained that there are over 70 inmates in the orphanage home, who are enrolled at her group of schools – nursery, primary and secondary schools – with a population of over 200 pupils. According to the Proprietor, the inmates who were collected from their mothers for their inability to care for them would be handed over to their mothers after their education when they would have been able to effectively function in the larger society irrespective of the circumstances of their births. Sister Oforka appealed to the government at all levels, particularly the Enugu State Government to come to the aid of the school in the area of provision of infrastructure and facilities, saying the curriculum of the school emphasises skills acquisition in view of the social realities that stare the orphans in the face after graduation.

In his remarks, the former Secretary to Igbo-Eze North Council, Mr. Francis Ujah, a special guest at the occasion told New Telegraph that “I can boldly tell you that we can see the hand of Jesus in this our community. I say this because our sister has demonstrated the attributes of Jesus Christ, whom the Bible tells us went about doing good and relating with the wretched of the earth. “In this case of this young woman (Sister Oforka), who has all the opportunities to live in the cities and enjoy all the amenities of modern life, she is now living in this remote community in Enugu state where she takes good care of the lessprivileged, orphans and those she never knew by rekindling in them the hope for life.”