In a significant step toward improving the lives of displaced children, a group of non-governmental organizations has donated a library and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment to a camp housing internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.
The donation, made at a temporary shelter situated along the Makurdi-Gbamjinba Road, is designed to benefit the over 1,100 households currently residing in the camp. The educational resources are expected to provide a much-needed boost to the academic prospects of children who have been uprooted from their communities due to conflict and insecurity.
K2U Puzzle, The Offshore Lab, and Smile Doctors Foundation joined forces to carry out the initiative. These NGOs collaborated to address the growing concern around education access among children living in displacement camps.
While speaking during the handover ceremony, Emeka Obiwulu, the representative of The Offshore Lab, explained that the initiative was created to offer learning opportunities to young individuals in areas severely impacted by violence and instability.
“Our aim is to raise the bar of education in communities where normalcy has been disrupted,” Obiwulu said. “By establishing learning facilities such as this, we hope to create an environment where children can continue their education despite their current circumstances.”
Martins Oloye, who represented K2U Puzzle, disclosed that the organization took the lead in constructing and furnishing the new library. According to him, the facility is designed to accommodate up to 50 children at any given time and is stocked with a wide range of learning materials.
“The library is equipped with educational textbooks, notebooks, and other vital academic tools,” Oloye stated. “We are committed to ensuring that these children do not fall further behind in their learning journey. Our contribution is about restoring hope and ensuring continuous access to knowledge.”
Adding a healthcare component to the outreach, Dr. Olufunmilayo Adeniyi of the Smile Doctors Foundation offered oral health screenings and dental care services to children in the camp. She emphasized the importance of pairing education with health to provide holistic support for displaced children.
The organizations jointly expressed appreciation to the Benue State Government for creating a conducive atmosphere for humanitarian interventions. They acknowledged that their efforts would not have been possible without the support and openness of the local authorities.
In attendance at the event was the Benue State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Fred Kyan, who commended the NGOs for their timely and thoughtful contribution. He highlighted the role of education in rebuilding lives affected by crisis and stressed the importance of such gestures in helping displaced children reintegrate into formal education systems in the future.
“This initiative serves as a temporary solution to safeguard learning continuity for children outside the traditional school system,” Dr. Kyan noted. “When these children eventually return to their communities, this foundation will make reintegration into standard educational institutions much smoother.”
The event drew smiles and excitement from the children and their families, many of whom expressed hope that more developmental projects would be brought to the camp. The gesture is being seen as a beacon of hope for a community that has endured immense hardship and uncertainty.
