NGO distributes food stuffs to Sokoto State IDPs
An NGO, T200 Foundation fed and distributed food stuffs in the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Rabah town, headquarters of Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
The quiz competition, talent shows, recitation of national anthem and other exercises were conducted by the children resident in the camp.
In his address, the Executive Director of the Foundation, Mr Emmanuel Osadebey, said the feeding session was aimed at reaching the residents of the camp with comfortable day feedings to make them to feel the same way other people in affluent homes feed.
Osadebey said the foundation also organized quiz competition for the children to develop their patriotism and talents on the national anthem, current affairs, 1-100 numerals and the 26 alphabets.
He said that the essence of the competition was to give the children an opportunity to showcase their talents.
Osudebey said: “ It is important to develop the children’s talents and comfort them in an effort to discourage them from looking at their problems. Pitying them will not guarantee any good future for them as these children should by now be helped to be developed not pitied.”
He added that children who were within the age range of 0-17 were among the persons impoverished by banditry. According to him, the organization had conducted similar exercise in Maiduguri, Borno for persons affected by Boko Haram insurgency and targeted about 10,000 persons.
He said besides ready food and drinks, residents of IDP camp received bags of rice, cartons of spaghetti and other food items.
He said that the organization also engaged on training the IDPs with skills for small scale businesses and develop the capacity of those interested in farming activities for onward engagement in the organization farm located in Abuja.
Osadebey added that the activities were in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and assured continued partnership with governments, institutions and organizations toward achieving the goals.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Sokoto State Ministry of Social Welfare and Humanitarian activities, Hajiya Amina Jekada, commended T200 for the gestures.
Jekada said the event had demonstrated the organization’s concern on their brothers who were affected by banditry and other displacements and urged Nigerians to emulate them.
She said that Sokoto state government was making drastic efforts to return IDPs to their respective settlements as various efforts were being made to enhance their well-being.
Some of the beneficiaries, Malama Laraba Isyaku, Yahanasu Bello and Shamsiyya Adamu lauded the NGO for the valuable gestures.
NAN / Foluke Ibitomi
