NTA 2 Lagos Celebrates Children’s Day with Visit to Heart of Gold Children’s Hospice
By Naomi Onome
As part of activities marking the 2026 Children’s Day celebration, the management and staff of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) 2 Lagos paid a humanitarian visit to Heart of Gold Children’s Hospice, an orphanage and special care home in Surulere, Lagos, where they donated food items, household materials and other relief supplies to children living with disabilities and special needs.
The visit, led by the Zonal Director of NTA 2 Lagos, Dr. Evelyn Nwosu, was aimed at showing love and solidarity with vulnerable children who are often excluded from mainstream Children’s Day celebrations held annually on May 27 across the world.
Speaking during the outreach, Dr. Nwosu explained that the station deliberately chose to celebrate children who are rarely remembered during festive occasions.
“You know that May 27 worldwide is Children’s Day and usually we have activities to celebrate children. But for us this year, we chose to celebrate those children who cannot come out to dance or participate in debates and other activities. We came to identify with children whom society often overlooks,” she said.
The NTA boss expressed deep emotions after interacting with some of the children at the hospice, especially a 13-year-old child living with severe disability. According to her, the experience served as a reminder that life itself is a blessing and that society should not forget children living with disabilities and special needs.
“For everybody, Children’s Day should not just be about celebrations and merriment. It should also be an opportunity to reach out to children who may not even know that it is Children’s Day because of their condition and circumstances,” she added.
Dr. Nwosu acknowledged government efforts towards caring for persons living with disabilities but noted that much more still needs to be done. She observed that many of the children at the hospice require better facilities and improved welfare support.
“I know government has done something over the years, but they are not doing enough. When we entered some of the rooms, you could see that the beds are barely enough and some of the children who deserve greater comfort are not as comfortable as they should be,” she stated.
She also seized the opportunity to encourage parents not to abandon children born with disabilities, sharing a personal story about her elder brother who survived polio as a child and later became a successful chartered accountant and family man.
“If my parents had abandoned him because he could not walk at the age of two, perhaps we would never have known what he would become today. Parents should nurture these children because nobody truly knows the future they hold,” she said.
Founder of the hospice, Mrs. Laja Adedoyin, disclosed that the facility was established on October 2, 2003, to cater for abandoned and vulnerable children living with cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, congenital abnormalities, mental disabilities and other special conditions.
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According to her, the home has continued to survive for over two decades despite numerous financial and medical challenges associated with caring for children with special needs.
“The greatest challenges are usually medical because many times you do not even know the exact condition of the child until medical examinations are carried out,” she explained.
Mrs. Adedoyin commended NTA for maintaining a long-standing relationship with the hospice, noting that the station has consistently supported the home over the years through periodic donations and advocacy.
“NTA called me like they always do yearly to inform me they would be coming. We have had a relationship with them since we started and they have been supportive,” she said.
She further explained that children are only admitted into the hospice through legal procedures involving the police, the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, and the courts to prevent issues related to child trafficking and illegal adoption.
“For a child to come into this home, the child must be covered by papers from the police, the ministry and the court. Every child here is protected by the law,” she emphasized.
Speaking on the welfare of the children, the founder said the hospice ensures they are properly fed, educated and protected from abuse or neglect. She noted that despite economic hardship, the children are given adequate meals, medical care and educational opportunities.
She also highlighted the emotional and psychological challenges faced by children growing into adulthood while trying to understand their backgrounds and identities.
“The society is not always welcoming to children like this, but we try to encourage them and make them understand that their future still matters. Education remains very important for them,” she added.
The visit formed part of NTA 2 Lagos’ week-long Children’s Day activities, which traditionally include debates, cultural displays and entertainment programmes for children. However, the station said this year’s celebration was intentionally redirected towards children living with disabilities and those requiring special care.
The outreach ended with prayers, interaction with the children, and presentation of gift items to support the continued operation of the hospice.
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