Aisha Buhari plans orphanage for Boko Haram victims

The deputy governor of Borno state, Alh. Usman Mamman Durkwa laid the foundation for the Aisha Buhari Orphanage and School on Bama Road, Maiduguri today.

The project is the brainchild of the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and is meant to cater for victims of Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

The Director, Media, Mr Suleiman Haruna said Aisha  was represented by her Senior Special Assistant, Dr Hajo Sani, adding that the project was under the Aisha Buhari Foundation.

“This project is born out of my passion to improve the living condition of victims of conflicts and other humanitarian crises, particularly children. Children need to grow up in an ideal environment; they need all the basic necessities of life such as food, clean water, education,” Aisha said in her message read at the ceremony.

Aisha said children affected by the insurgency needed medical services, sanitation, security and shelter, as well as other items like blankets, mattresses and mosquito nets.

She explained that the Aisha Buhari Foundation was meant to provide shelter, educational facilities, as well as income generating activities for the benefit of underprivileged children.

She said that the foundation envisaged that the school and the orphanage, when completed, would cater for close to 2,000 youths and women.

She added that the school was designed to have 12 classrooms for nusery and primary schools, and 20 classes in the secondary school section.

The school would also have an ICT centre, a male and female hostel, a health facility, staff quarters, a skills acquisition centre, an administrative block, as well as four laboratories.

She appreciated “the concern, love and philanthropy shown by well-meaning Nigerians and organisations toward improving the living standards of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

“I wish to use this opportunity to thank the government and people of Borno,

especially Gov. Kashim Shettima for his unwavering commitment to the cause of the displaced.

“The governor had exhibited the political will and provided an enabling environment for humanitarian actors both at local and global levels.

“The people of Borno have also exhibited an outstanding spirit of resilience and brotherhood, which other Nigerians and the rest of humanity should emulate.”

(NAN)