Abuja: No fewer than 43 survivors at the Home for the Needy Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Uhorgua, Edo, are set to graduate from tertiary institutions at the end of the ongoing academic session.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Coordinator of the camp, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, disclosed this in an interview, highlighting the academic achievements of the camp’s residents. The soon-to-be graduates are enrolled in various courses across the country, including Engineering, Medicine, Accounting, Nursing, Law, Business Administration, Pharmacy, and Laboratory Technology.
Folorunsho also revealed that 147 survivors recently completed their Senior Secondary School Examination (SSCE). He noted that 140 of these students sat for the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination, with one scoring above 300 and more than 123 scoring above 200. The camp is hopeful for the admission of about 145 students into tertiary institutions, considering the recent JAMB cut-off marks.
Furthermore, Folorunsho stated that six survivors are currently undergoing the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, while five were recently called to the Nigerian Bar. Despite these successes, he lamented the challenges faced in providing for the over 4,000 survivors in the camp, particularly in terms of food and education.
Folorunsho emphasized that the camp receives little assistance from the government, relying instead on a few private individuals and clerics. He expressed disappointment over the lack of support from major corporate organizations and shared the camp’s hopes of receiving aid from musician David Adeleke, known as Davido, during his donations to orphanages.
Despite these challenges, Folorunsho remains committed to supporting the dreams of the survivors. He called on Nigerians to join the camp’s efforts in helping the residents achieve their aspirations, regardless of their religious or personal backgrounds.
