News

Emotion, Joy As Benin IDP Camp Rolls Out First Class Graduates, Others

Published

3 years ago

September 16, 2023

Editor

… Coordinator Pleads To Govt, Nation Of The World To Invest On The Children

… Over 3,000 Displaced Children Domiciled In The Camp

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

It was a moment of emotion mixed with joy at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, Benin, as fresh graduates of university who have passed through the camp gave testimony one after the other on how Home for the Needy Foundation, operators of the IDP camp changed their lives

The graduates, of whom many bagged First Class in different universities were sponsored by Home for the Needy Foundation, and were majorly drawn from the northern part of Nigera.

INFO DAILY reports that 18 students who passed through the camp just graduated from different universities; over 80 students have graduated so far; over 200 undergraduates in different universities while over 150 students admissions are being processed.

INFO DAILY also reports that children under Home for the Needy Foundation care at the IDP camp are majorly children who were displaced by Boko Haram insurgency in the far northern Nigeria, mainly Borno, Adamawa states, etc.

In his testimony, a First Class graduate of Chemical Engineering, Amos Ishaku, said all hope was lost until he was brought to the camp where he was given new orientation and made to overcome trauma he was passing through as a result of the killings and shootings he experienced as a young boy.

Ishaku, who said he came to the IDP camp from Borno State in 2014 through connection from his former Headmaster, said he had initially dropped out of school due to Boko Haram’s incessant attacks on his community and school, adding that he never thought of going back to school if not for the foundation.

He said: “I never thought of going back to school after dropping out of school for good two years. I was hustling on my own; going to people’s farm to assist them then they pay me 200 per day.”

He continued: “I was so traumatized that all I see and think about was the deaths, gunshots we used to hear. But when I came here they started encouraging us to go back to school.”

He added: “I promised to make the Coordinator proud with all efforts he put on me. So, from my day one, I made up my mind that I must graduate with First Class, and today I graduated with First Class.”

Rifkatu Ali, a Second Class Upper graduate of Law who was said to have lost hope when she was brought to the camp, said with the orientation she got from the camp she was determined to make a difference in her education, adding that God helped her.

“When I got here we were assured of going back to school. I was told here to forget all that had happened, and that I can still make it again. So, I started school here in SS 1.

“Here, the kind of orientation we were giving is that we should not do malpractice in school during exams. We are to read our books and pass our SSCE. Because of the orientation I got here, I was determined to read and pass my exams.”

Also, Saminu Wakili, best graduating student of law in his set said: “I came here as ashes but something good is coming out of my life. I came here with a meaningless life, but today my life is meaningful. I came to Home for the Needy Foundation seeking for solace in January 2015.

“What they give us here is actually the best. They make here like a home for us. The things they provided for us here are guardian & counselling, ‘trauma-therapist,’ etc. They took away the major challenge of trauma from us and made us to focus on education.”

Speaking, Coordinator, Home for the Needy Foundation, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, pleaded with government at levels in Nigera and nations of the world to join in investing in the lives of the children, adding that over 3,000 imates are currently being taken care of by the foundation.

He said: “Presently, we have over 3,000 inmates in the camp all pursuing their life styles in a manner that is within the ambit of the extant laws of the country. These imates depending on Home for the Needy Foundation for their daily feeding, shelter, education,primary health care and other welfare.”

He added: “So, we are here to also plead with Federal Government, state governments and nations around the world to please come and invest in this place. We are ready to do more if the resources are available. We change lives here. We want to take children from the streets and make them useful in the society.

“We don’t do anything that is contrary to the law here, we are just adding beauty to the nation.”

The Coordinator expressed optimism that with the kind of orientation given to the children, they would go into the society and put an end to many social vices bedeviling the country.

News

Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

Published

4 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

News

Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

Published

7 hours ago

May 28, 2026

Editor

Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

News

Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

Published

22 hours ago

May 27, 2026

Editor

Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.
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‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”
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‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection
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It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.
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‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.
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‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.
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‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

“The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”
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