TY Danjuma Foundation Spends N200m on IDPs

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

In line with its vision of providing succour to the poor and the needy in the society, the Theophilous Danjuma Foundation said it has expended over N200 million on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) scattered in various camps across the country.

The CEO of the foundation, Dr. Sunday Udo, made this known yesterday in Abuja at a skills acquisition training programme for 55 IDPs at the New Knochigoro camp, Abuja, which was organised by the All Children Charity International Foundation (ACCIF), in partnership with TY Danjuma Foundation.

Udo, who was represented by the Grants and Partnership Officer, Mr. Gima Forje, said the training was a continuation of what the foundation started in 2015, where it trained 35 IDPs at the Pegi camp in Kuje.

According to him, “All what we are doing is in line with the mission of the organisation, and the vision set forth by the chairman of the foundation. So, supporting people in need is what we do; and you will imagine people who moved all the way from Borno State to Abuja to get support, they are in need, and that is what we do, and we have to do that.”

Udo revealed: “So far, we have expended about N25 million on this project. But barely speaking, we have put into IDPs project probably N200 million. For this specific project, last year we have 38 IDPs we supported at the Pegi camp in Kuje. Today, we are supporting 55 IDPs at Pegi and New Knochigoro camps.”

Earlier, in her opening remarks, the founder and the Executive Director, ACCIF, Barr. Ranti Daudu said the programme marked another history in thr lives of the 55 IDPs as they would begin a journey of training in shoe-making, tailoring, and Welding for six months.

She stated: “in 2015, 36 IDPs were trained in in shoe-making in Pegi, IDPs camp. The success story of the skills acquired by the beneficiaries is still being celebrated as quite a number of them are doing great in their various businesses. Today, some of them are with us as proofs that indeed the TY Danjuma Foundation means what it says by providing training and start up equipment for each beneficiary. “

Daudu added: “Twenty of the IDPs will be trained in tailoring, 25 in shoe-making and 10 in welding technology. Each training will be provided with start-up equipment at the end of the training. The equipment are already purchased and waiting to be distributed to each beneficiary after their training.”

She also stressed that free launch and training materials would also be made available for the trainees daily during their training days, while each vocation centre would have two trainers.

Daudu noted that an entrepreneur class was being put in place for the trainees where they would be taught business skills and management on how to effectively manage their own businesses afterwards.

However, the Village Head of New Knochigoro, Mr. Ibrahim Wamgbe, urged the trainees not to misuse of the opportunity which he said would turn their lives around and in turn have impact on the lives of others.