More women should be doing works of charity-Queen Ure Okezie

Queen Ure Okezie, ex banker, musical diva and the CEO of Dream and Become International was recently seen at the Heart Of Gold Orphanage at Masha, in Surulere, Lagos where this interview took place.

She came to do what she has always loved to do, so as  to make God happy and to give back to the society. She came to pay a visit children with special disabilities  under Porpori Platform, her own initiative. Aside from visiting them, she also gave them her love, prayer and gift items. She was there for close to 45 minutes, carrying the kids one after the other and speaking to them in an emotion laden voice.  When asked why, her answer never concealed her feelings. “When you come in contact with them, carry them, look into their eyes, you just feel bad, you can’t but feel bad and wonder why they are the way they are. I’m also wondering what could have caused their problems.  Whether it was due to malnutrition on the parts of their mothers when they were pregnant? Or certain nutrients that were lacking when they were pregnant.  Or maybe their mothers were ill and that affected the babies while they were in the womb. I have asked myself several questions, not arriving at an answer,” she enthused.

Based on the kids’ deformities, the first set of people she counselled were pregnant mums. Reason was that most of the deformities took place in the womb and it should have been prevented. “My advice is that pregnant mums should learn to take care of themselves. Go extra miles to find out what you should eat when  you are pregnant because what you eat while pregnant affects your unborn child. It can make or mar an unborn child. Take necessary multivitamins,” she said, as a matter of fact.

Still not done with her advice, she continued, now  concentrating on  pregnant women who indulge in self medication. “If for any reason you find yourself pregnant, you should know that a baby is getting set to come into the world. Try and keep the unborn child safe and unhurt starting from the time of conception. Don’t indulge in self medication. There are some drugs you used to take when you are not pregnant. If you take them without telling your doctor, it may affect your baby and cause some malformation.

“Then, you should also be prayerful when you are expecting a child because prayer helps a lot. Prayers prevent certain attacks from getting at you and your unborn child. This is the fact.  So, that while you are delivering your child, all would go well because of the power of prayer (God),” she stressed.

Mothers who have children with special disabilities and are on the verge of disposing them, the Physics graduate of University of Jos has some words. “But if for any reason you are a mother of a child with special disabilities, the Lord God is your strength. Remember you shouldn't for any reason do away with such a child or abandon him/her. Or even throw the child away, your own child? Where is that milk of kindness in you as a mother? Know it that for you to have a child with special disabilities, it means that there are special blessings attached to it. So, keep the child, pray for her, who knows God might decide to do something in the nearest future. I personally  believe in the power of prayers. There is nothing whatsoever that prayers cannot do or rectify. So, challenge God in faith, you would see what He would do rather than dumping the child by the road side,” she enthused.

Then to some women who delight in throwing expensive parties and decking themselves in gold, without giving back to the society or caring for the needy, the diva said they “should also learn to do more works of charity. Being charitable doesn't mean having much money. But the little you have, share it. You can share it by visiting orphanage homes, rather than lavish your money throwing parties. Or better still go to such places and celebrate with them. That is what I have been doing under Porpori Platform, my own initiative and honestly God has been faithful. Nothing stops you from joining us and being  part of God’s blessings,” she said.

By ADAEZE AMOS