Borno state indigenes at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Uhogua community in Ovia North- East Local Government Area of Edo state have appealed to Babagana Umara Zulum, the governor of the state to come to assist them in feeding and provide scholarships for their academic activities.
The Internally Displaced Persons made the appeal yesterday when members of Northern Patriotic Front, led by its chairman, Ali Abacha, visited the camp on a fact-finding mission.
The Borno State indigenes that made the call are Nathaniel Ibrahim, a 200-level student of Medicine, Edo University, Iyamho, Rifikatu Ali, a 200-level law student and Ladi Solomon, a widow.
Nathaniel Ibrahim, who said the appeal became necessary noted that many of them are in higher institutions and would not want their education to be truncated for lack of funds.
“Many of us are in 200 and 300-level studying Medicine, Engineering, Accountancy, Nursing, amongst others.
“Others who passed WAEC and JAMB and awaiting admission, also need money to actualise their dreams.
“We are calling on our governor to assist us with fund and scholarship so that those of us already in school can graduate, while those who pass WAEC and JAMB can get admission,” he said.
On his part, Rifikatu Ali, a 200-level law student who lamented that they are preparing for another academic session added that they are faced with the challenge of fund.
“We are schooling on people’s goodwill, people donate money so that we can get education. That is why we are calling on our governor and other organisations in charge of IDPs to come to our aid so that after our education, we can help to develop Borno state.
“Most of us are studying in private schools and our school, We still need money to pay school, buy books and other items,” she said.
Also speaking, Ladi Solomon, a widow, appealed to the Borno state government and other organisations to assist in food and other household items.
She lamented that the stores in the camp are completely empty of foodstuffs.
In his remark, Solomon Folorunsho, the coordinator of the needy noted that they need foods to take care of the over 300 members of the home and money to take care of over 50 of them who are in various higher institutions.
“Some of them are in 300, 200 and 100 levels, they are studying engineering, accountancy, medicine, law among others. This is why we are calling on state government, well meaning individuals and organisation to come to our aid.
“We have over 50 of them in higher institutions, over 100 passed WAEC and JAMB. All of them need to complete their education.”
Earlier, the Chairman, Northern Patriotic Front, Ali Abacha, said they were in the camp to ascertain how the displaced persons from Borno state are faring, so that they can write a comprehensive report to the state government to take action.
According to him, we have seen how they are living, we have inspected their dormitories and classes and we would convey our findings to the governor who will look into the issue, because they can’t drop out of school because of money.
Abacha assured that the Borno state governor who is rebuilding the state will attend to their needs.
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