The Founder, Home for the Needy, which houses over 4,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Edo State, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, on Friday, appealed to Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, to come to the aid of IDPs in the camp.
The camp, which plays host to displaced victims of Boko Haram insurgency from Borno State, is located in Ohogua, Ovia North-East local government area of Edo State.
Folorunsho, while speaking to journalists on the heels of the recent successes achieved by the Home of the Needy IDPs Camp, said the facility has successfully sponsored the graduation of five medical doctors who recently graduated from Edo State University, Iyamho, with distinctions.
He lamented that several letters and attempts to draw the attention of the Borno State government to support the educational needs of the insurgency victims have not yielded any positive response as the camp rely on the generosity of Nigerians and organisations for survival.
Recall that of the IDPs, Amos Ishiaku, who received a fully funded PhD scholarship, is presently studying at the University of IIIinois, Chicago, USA.
He said, “A lot of people don’t know that from the era of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the state governor up til now, we have reintegrated and reunited about 7,000 persons. There was a time we were working with the Red Cross on this. There were others we did by ourselves. Most of them are in different families and communities. Most of those that are here are orphans and widows.
“Having said that, the governments of the states where they came from despite the publicity, achievements, we have not had any support from them. There was even a time we wrote to some of them, they didn’t pay attention. I don’t know what we should do.
“I want to appeal to their conscience that these people are their people that we’re helping. These doctors, lawyers, nurses, engineers, etc. One of them just graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Zaria, here he read Communication Engineering. He was the best in his department. He got first-class. He just finished his project and is about returning to Uhogua.
“They’re coming to build your society. Why don’t you just look this way and put religion and other sentiments aside. So, we’re appealing to those governments. We need their support.”
He added that his passion to the upbringing and welfare of the IDPs was to ensure that they become better to the society and world, adding that despite the challenges, they were still more to be done at the camp.
“One of the major challenges we are having right now is the payment of school fees. Though some schools were a bit lenient with us but because of the situation in the country, it is hard. Some of them are beginning to not let our children write exams.
“In one of the Universities, we have not been able to pay hostel fees and for that reason, our students don’t reside in the hostels. Now they’re sleeping at the security gate, from there they attend classes. I told them that it’s going to be part of their beautiful story.”
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