Funding crisis threatens education, welfare of 4,000 displaced children, Edo foundation warns

Nigeria’s rising inflation and declining humanitarian support are threatening the education and welfare of thousands of internally displaced children, with the Home for the Needy Foundation in Uhogua, Edo State, warning that years of investment in rebuilding lives could be reversed without urgent intervention from government, the private sector and philanthropists.

Solomon Folorunsho, coordinator of the Home for the Needy Foundation and Overseer of the International Christian Centre for Missions (ICCM), said the foundation was struggling to sustain operations as soaring food prices and dwindling donations continue to erode its capacity to care for children displaced by insurgency and violent attacks across Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview with BusinessDay in Benin City, Folorunsho said the shelter, which has cared for thousands of vulnerable children since 2012, is finding it increasingly difficult to provide food, clean water, accommodation, toiletries and other essential services as more displaced families continue to seek refuge at the facility.

He said that many of the children arrived at the shelter after witnessing the killing of their parents and relatives, leaving them traumatised and without hope. According to him, the Foundation’s intervention extends beyond providing shelter to restoring confidence through psychosocial support, quality education, mentorship and skills development.

Folorunsho said the approach has produced remarkable results, with beneficiaries graduating in law, engineering, medicine and other professional disciplines. Some have earned first-class degrees, while others have secured opportunities abroad, demonstrating the transformative impact of sustained investment in vulnerable children.

Despite the success stories, he disclosed that worsening economic conditions have pushed the Foundation into survival mode, with many children now surviving on just one low-quality meal a day. He added that several students in tertiary institutions are also struggling to pay tuition fees, threatening to derail years of academic progress.

He appealed to corporate organisations, development partners, faith-based organisations and well-meaning Nigerians to support the Foundation with food supplies, educational sponsorships and critical infrastructure.

He identified the most pressing needs as food items, mattresses, mosquito nets, bathing and washing soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hostel renovations, solar-powered water systems and borehole facilities.

According to him, the Foundation has supported more than 4,000 displaced persons over the years, although the number continues to rise as insecurity forces more families from their communities. While many children remain in formal education, others have been integrated into farming clusters established by the foundation to promote food security, livelihoods and economic self-reliance.

Folorunsho said between 135 and 200 candidates sponsored by the foundation sit for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) annually, with many progressing to universities and other tertiary institutions. He described education as the foundation’s most effective tool for breaking the cycle of poverty, displacement and violence.

The cleric commended Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, for supporting the foundation with food items, financial assistance and institutional backing, noting that such interventions have helped cushion the impact of the economic downturn on displaced children.

He, however, stressed that sustained public-private partnerships are essential to preserve the gains already recorded and ensure that vulnerable children are equipped to become productive citizens rather than victims of circumstance.