Nigerian Navy gives bursary, food items to orphans in Makurdi
Nigerian Navy gives bursary, food items to orphans in Makurdi
The Nigerian Navy gives bursary awards, books, food items and sanitary pads to orphans at Tivid Orphanage and School in Makurdi.
Rear Admiral Olusegun Soyemi, Flag Officer Commanding, Special Operations Command Makurdi, said that the gesture was part of the activities to celebrate the Nigerian Navy at 70.
Soyemi, who was represented by Commodore Maksum Mohammed, Command Operations Officer, said that gesture was a strategic directive from the Chief of Naval Staff.
The commanding officer stated that the Nigerian Navy chose to celebrate with children because the Navy Week coincided with the Children’s Day celebration.
“The command had the option of going to schools alone, but because Benue is peculiar in respect of security challenges the state is dealing with, we decided to come to the orphanage.
“We know that there are Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and we know there are children, who have suffered as a result of terrorists activities.
“We came to spend time with those who have been at the receiving end of security challenges, and for us, it is not just picking out children but children that have no parents.
“Through this outreach, we are donating foodstuff to meet nutritional needs, notebooks to support your learning, sanitary pads to ensure the dignity and health of our young girls and bursary awards to help some of you continue your education without interruption,” he said.
Soyemi stated that for 70 years, the Nigerian Navy has existed to protect Nigeria’s maritime domain and safeguard the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians.
The commanding officer added that Navy’s service to the nation was not only at sea but also about reaching out to the communities they sworn to protect, especially the most vulnerable among, the children.
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He said that outreach is the Nigerian Navy’s way of giving back and showing that the service stands with the people not only in defence of the nation but in support of their growth, education and well-being.
Soyemi urged the children not to allow the circumstances to define their potential.
The commanding officer charged them to keep learning, keep behaving well and never give up on their dreams.
Ms Favour Adah, Chief Executive/Proprietress of Tivid Orphanage and School, lauded the Nigerian Navy for coming to the aid of the orphans and solicited the support of government and spirited individuals.
Adah said that home was going through times in the catering for the needs of the over 100 children under their care.
“We are even contemplating closing the school because of the myriads of challenges we are facing, but we are trusting God to come through for us for the sake of the children.
“We are calling on the government and well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the Nigerian Navy and to come to our aid,” she pleaded.
She stated that people pay more attention to the IDP camps than the orphanage home, but the Nigerian Navy chose Tivid Home.
According to her, the home, which will clock 12 years of existence in July, has produced graduates,with one of them a lieutenant in the Nigerian Army.
One of the beneficiaries of the bursary award, Simon Idakwo, an undergraduate student of Moses Orshio Adasu University Makurdi, thanked the Nigerian Navy for coming to their aid.
