Entrance of Future Assured College for Orphans in Maiduguri
The Victims Support Fund (VSF) has approved N500 million support for equipping and running of Future Assured College in Maiduguri, established by Aisha Buhari Foundation (ABF), for orphans who lost their parents to insurgency.
The Chairman of VSF, General T.Y Danjuma, made this known on Wednesday in Maiduguri, during the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the VSF and ABF.
Danjuma who was represented by the Executive Director of VSF, Prof. Nana Tanko, said that the support to the college was to enable it deliver in remedying the devastating impact of the general ideology of boko haram which had created radical youths driven by religious misconceptions that led to the insurgency.
“The Future Assured College is to be citadel of learning in the main theatre of the insurgency constituting of experts and professionals that are vastly knowledgeable in both Islamic and Western Education.
“The College will focus on supporting orphans through the provision of trauma healing, Islamic and western education preparatory to their future roles as leaders. It will also work to facilitate the creation of an environment free from religious and social radicalism both within families and communities.
“It is therefore complementing the training of the children with the training and empowerment of female parents,especially thosethat are widows and divorced in a Women Adult Education Centre to be established within the College, ” Danjuma said.
He explained that the core funding to be provided by VSF would be for purchase of fixed assets such as computers, laboratory equipments, furniture, operational and administrative activities for a period of three years.
While nothing that the VSF has been providing succour to victims of terrorism since 2015, Danjuma listed infrastructure, education, women economic empowerment, healthcare, peace building and research as some of its major areas of intervention particularly in North East.
He explained that about over 200 structures were rebuilt, 25,000 women supported alongside 25,000 farming families, as well as 10,000 orphans in the region.
In her remarks, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, represented by her daughter, Barrister Halima Buhari Sheriff, who is the Legal Secretary of Aisha Buhari Foundation, lauded the support from VSF and urged others to emulate it.
Signing of MoU
Buhari said the school built on about two hectares of land has 24 classrooms, three laboratories, multipurpose hall, administrative block, staff quarter and a place of worship.
She also lauded Borno Government for it support and urged it to work hand in hand with the committee of people of proven integrity set up to run the College.
“We cannot thank the VSF enough for all the support to the numerous projects around the country.
“While thanking the Chairman of VSF, General T.Y Danjuma and the executive management represented by Prof. Nana Tanko who work tirelessly to ensure this project has become a reality, we call on all other well meaning Nigerians to lend thier support in these kind of projects.
“I also want to appeal to those with unredeemed pledges to VSF to please fulfill their promises”, Buhari urged.
Others who spoke at the occassion include Special Assistant to the President in First Lady Office, Muhammad Usman Albishir, Borno Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, and Supervisor of the project, Dr Muhammad Sani Idris.
Highlights of the occassion is the inspection of the College structure and signing of MoU.
