In October 2004, I was to begin my formation for Catholic Priesthood at All Hallows Seminary. The preparation was not all that easy financially for my parents. On the very day  I was to enter seminary, my parents were yet to get enough money to buy all the things that I needed and to pay my fees. 

On that very morning, I could see my mum rushing out of the house, and rushing in. She was looking for help and means to complete what was remaining . And even when I eventually entered the junior seminary, it was not easy for my parents to take care of my financial needs. My parents did not want me to notice the difficulties, they just wanted me to be happy and focus on my studies, but I knew how much they were passing through in order to make sure that they paid my school fees and bought the books I needed at each stage of my seminary formation. 

In the seminary, I saw many wonderful kids expelled from the seminary because their parents could not pay their school fees. When I was a Senior seminarian, I would see many little kids staying at home, going to farm with their parents, hawking in the streets, markets and roads, because their parents did not have money to give them good formal education. This situation has not stopped rather it is becoming worse everyday because of the hardship in Nigeria. 

As a priest I made God a promise of helping little children the much I can and with what I have. Through people’s charity and little I have been earning from my priestly ministry. I have been able to pay school fees for some children. The truth is that I have this desire always burning in me to do more, but I have so little. I started this program when I was still a seminarian in Rome.

 Sometimes, when the term is beginning, I would be afraid of how to raise money t pay the kids’ school fees, but through one way or the other, God has been faithful in coming to our aid. There was a time it was extremely difficult for me to continue, after moments of prayer, I decided to end the program. 

The same day I made the decision, the mother of one of the kids sent me a video of her 8 years old boy thanking me and praying foe me for the help I have been giving to him, and he said, “Thank you Fr Henry for keeping me in school. Thank you for helping my parents in paying my school fees. God bless you Fr. Henry.” Tears could not allow me as I was watching this little child being grateful. 

At that point, I looked at the crucifix hanging at my bedside, and it was as if Christ whispered to me, “Son, my grace is enough for you, do not be afraid for I am with you”. At this point, I made another decision and said to the crucified Lord, “as long as I live, Lord, the much your grace permits me, I will be ever ready to assist children from poor families. But dear Lord, take the lead.” Dearest in the Lord, I must say that till date, God has been faithful in helping me out with this desire and mission. 

In order to give a name to this my desire, I came up with the name VINCENTIAN FOUNDATION FOR THE TRAINING OF KIDS. My dream for this foundation is not only to pay the school fees of some children from poor families but also to make sure that these children are well trained, and their talents discovered and developed from their childhood age. 

Therefore, during the school holidays, we will organize some days or weeks of ‘skill-acquisitions’ and trainings for the kids depending on the talents of each one of them. These skill-acquisitions will include majorly learning of playing any of the musical instruments, and other important skills children can be introduced to. However, we will be taking things step by step.