The Rural Health Initiative for Improved Living (RHIFIL) has revitalized learning at the Home for the Needy (HfN) Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Uhogua, Edo State, with the renovation of six classrooms for primary school pupils.
The project, which turned previously dilapidated structures into bright, child-friendly learning spaces, was commissioned by officials from the Edo State Ministry of Health. It is being recognized as a model of effective NGO-led intervention in education and community health.
Speaking during the commissioning, RHIFIL President, Rev. Mrs. Josephine Kpere Daibo, said the initiative was inspired by the deplorable learning conditions she observed at the camp.
“Our hearts were moved by what we saw. We decided to renovate and plaster two school blocks comprising six classrooms to give these children a better future,” she said.
A teacher at the camp, Mr. Mathew Olisa, commended Rev. Daibo’s commitment, describing her as a woman of faith and vision.
“She has faith like her pastor, Archbishop Benson Idahosa. Once she decides to act, she believes it will work,” he noted.
Beyond classroom transformation, RHIFIL has a history of improving living conditions at the camp. Rev. Daibo recalled that in 2015, the organisation constructed and handed over 15 modern water-system toilets for boys, enhancing sanitation and hygiene among residents.
“Our goal is to provide comprehensive health education, diagnosis, and treatment to over 300 individuals in each community, ensuring access to essential healthcare for those in need,” she added.
The initiative has continued to attract both local and international support, including from the Babos Foundation (USA), which contributes to food and welfare programs through RHIFIL.
Commending the organisation’s efforts, Executive Director of the Home for the Needy Foundation, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, described Rev. Daibo as “a mother to many and a visionary humanitarian whose impact will be remembered by the displaced persons she serves.”
Located about 25 kilometres from Benin City, the HfN IDP Camp in Uhogua shelters more than 3,000 displaced persons, offering food, healthcare, and free education. Many of its young residents who once fled violence are now pursuing careers as doctors, lawyers, engineers, and teachers—proof of how education can turn adversity into opportunity.
