Indigenes of Borno State from Gwoza have appealed to the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, to give priority to education of youths from the North East state presently in Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Edo State.
The indigenes under the platform, Gwoza Elite Forum of Borno, made the passionate appeal when they visited the camp in Uhogua, near Benin, to identify and encourage the IDPs.
President of the group, Dr Emmanuel Ibrahim, declared that available statistics from the management of the camp showed that there were more than 200 IDPs of the state origin presently in various schools whose school fees needed to be paid.
He revealed that some of the Borno indigenes in the IDP camp in Edo state are doing well in their education and must be given the needed encouragement by the Borno State Government.
He said:’ We are aware that recently one of our own made a First Class Honours Degree in Chemical Engineering and he is an IDP in this camp.
“Also, another one of us made a Second Class Upper Division Honours as the best graduating student in Law, and he is also in this camp.
“We are aware that the governor of our dear state is doing a lot in different places, but we also want him to impact the education of these ones here, especially those in the university.”
Dr Ibrahim commended the Edo Government for making provision for adequate security of the IDPs while he also thanked the management of the camp for the sacrifice, commitment and resoluteness to give the IDPs’ sense of belonging, through education.
“The importance of education cannot be over- emphasised, and your commitment to bequeath that to not just the Borno IDPs here, but others from other states cannot be quantified.
“We want the government to know that it is a good thing that is happening here and the education of these IDPs from our state will be beneficial to our state in particular and the nation at large.
“Pastor, the entire Gwoza educated elite are now part of Home for the Needy Foundation and will continue to support you in whatever capacity we can and we hope our governor will too.”
In his response, the Coordinator of the camp, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho appreciated the group for their visit and encouragement.
Folorunsho also explained the challenges being faced in the camp in the areas of feeding, educational materials for the IDPs, drugs and other medical needs, as well as funding of the education of those in the tertiary institutions.
He appealed for assistance in those regards, and pledged that the management of the camp would continue to do their best to ensure that the IDPs were better off than they were before coming to the camp.
The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of food items to the camp and a card to the coordinator in appreciation of his goodwill.
READ ALSO FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNEÂ
and then