Femi Kuti connects with IDPs

Human rights activist and son of the Afro-beat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Femi Kuti and his four-man team have paid a one-day visit to the various project sites of the International Rescue Committee in Yola, Adamawa Sate as part of his efforts to give back to the society.

The visit, was the second to the North-East and a follow-up by Kuti to the one he made to Maiduguri months ago.

Kuti was accompanied on the tour of the International Rescue Committee-run project sites by the Country Director, Sarah Ndikumana, the organisation’s top programme managers and officials of the Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Explaining the reason for his visit to Yola, Kuti said he had always wanted to show his solidarity to those whose lives had been impacted by crisis in general and in the North East in particular, adding: “I am passionate about my people. The impression I get is that people are too scared to come here: yet, it is important that I tell the story of my people to my people.”

Kuti recalled that the pain he saw in the faces of many displaced persons during his visit to Maiduguri in January convinced him that the conflict-afflicted persons were in serious need of assistance.

He, however, regretted that enough attention was not being paid to their plight and urged the Nigerian Government to do more so that the people could repossess their lives once again.

“The little contribution that each and every Nigerian can make to put a smile on their faces goes a long way in portending hope for these traumatized people,” he stated.

Kuti visited the NYSC camp and interacted with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), who benefited from International Rescue Committee’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), health services and protection.