Dr Betta Edu has marked her 40th birthday by reaching out to internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue State with medical services, business start-up grants, scholarships, vocational equipment, food supplies and other forms of assistance aimed at improving their living conditions.

 

The humanitarian outreach took place on Tuesday at the Ichwa Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Makurdi, where thousands of displaced persons and other vulnerable residents benefited from the intervention.

 

The programme covered healthcare for more than 10,000 people from various IDP camps across the state, alongside livelihood support for women, youths and families struggling to rebuild their lives after displacement.

 

Edu said she chose to spend her birthday with displaced persons as an expression of gratitude to God for the gift of life and an opportunity to contribute to society, insisting that the initiative was not politically motivated.

 

Speaking with journalists during the outreach, the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development said her decision was driven by a longstanding commitment to humanitarian service.

 

“Today, I am in Benue because it is my birthday. I am here to reach out to thousands of people in IDP camps across the state. This is my passion and my covenant with God and humanity,” she said.

 

Betta Edu Provides Business Start-Up Support for IDPs

A major component of the birthday intervention was the provision of livelihood assistance to help displaced families establish small businesses and work towards financial independence.

 

The support included 40 business start-up grants, 40 sewing machines, 40 hairdressing kits, 40 deep freezers and 40 grinding machines, alongside vocational training and other empowerment initiatives.

 

The items were intended to provide beneficiaries with practical opportunities to earn an income, support their families and reduce their dependence on humanitarian assistance.

 

Edu explained that the intervention was designed to go beyond the distribution of relief materials by equipping beneficiaries with resources that could help them rebuild their livelihoods.

 

For displaced women and young people who have lost their means of income, access to vocational equipment and start-up capital can provide an opportunity to develop sustainable sources of livelihood, particularly when combined with appropriate training and follow-up support.

 

The programme also featured the distribution of about 4,000 wrappers and other materials to beneficiaries as part of efforts to support vulnerable households.

 

40,000 Scholarships Planned Over 10 Years

 

Education was another major focus of the birthday celebration, with Edu announcing an initiative involving 40,000 academic scholarships over 10 years.

 

The scholarship programme is intended to support children affected by displacement and help them return to school despite the financial difficulties facing their families.

 

Displacement often disrupts children’s education, forcing some to abandon school because of insecurity, relocation and the inability of their parents or guardians to meet basic educational expenses.

 

Edu said the educational intervention was designed to ease some of these challenges and give displaced children a better opportunity to continue their studies.

 

The initiative reflects the importance of including education in humanitarian responses, particularly in communities where prolonged displacement can expose children to further economic and social disadvantages.

 

However, the implementation of the long-term scholarship programme will be important in determining how many children ultimately benefit and how effectively the support reaches those most in need.

 

Free Medical Outreach Covers Thousands

The birthday intervention also included a free medical outreach targeting more than 10,000 people across IDP camps in Benue State.

 

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The programme was designed to provide healthcare assistance to displaced persons who may face difficulties accessing medical services because of poverty, overcrowded living conditions and the disruption of their normal lives.

 

Access to healthcare remains an important concern for displaced communities, where families may struggle to afford consultations, medicines and other essential medical services.

 

Edu said the outreach was part of her broader commitment to humanitarian service and an effort to address some of the immediate needs of affected families.

 

Alongside the medical programme, food and non-food items were distributed to help households meet their immediate needs.

 

The combination of healthcare, food assistance, education and livelihood support was intended to address different aspects of the challenges facing displaced persons rather than concentrating solely on short-term relief.

 

Edu Says Benue IDPs Need Lasting Resettlement

Edu said she chose Benue State because of the humanitarian challenges facing displaced persons in the area and the need for sustained assistance to affected families.

 

She recalled visiting the state in 2023, when she met some of the displaced persons personally, adding that the experience strengthened her commitment to supporting them.

 

According to her, the ultimate objective should be to help displaced families return to their ancestral communities when conditions permit and rebuild their lives in safety.

 

“The real idea is to ensure that we can pull them out of here back to their ancestral homes and permanently settle so they can be productive and support Nigeria with food,” she said.

 

Her remarks highlighted the need to move beyond temporary assistance towards durable solutions that address the circumstances forcing people to leave their homes.

 

Such solutions generally require adequate security, access to basic services, livelihood opportunities and the restoration of conditions that allow displaced families to return voluntarily and live safely.

 

Edu also called on the international community, development partners and well-meaning Nigerians to work with the Benue State Government to address the humanitarian situation and reduce the suffering of affected communities.

 

She acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia towards improving the welfare of vulnerable people.

 

She said continued cooperation between government institutions, humanitarian organisations and private individuals would be necessary to achieve meaningful and lasting improvements in the lives of displaced families.

 

Beneficiaries Welcome Birthday Intervention

The outreach was received with excitement by beneficiaries at the Ichwa IDP Camp, with displaced persons, women, youths and other residents expressing appreciation for the assistance provided.

 

The distribution of livelihood equipment, educational support, medical services and household supplies offered different forms of assistance to people facing the consequences of displacement.

 

Some beneficiaries offered prayers for Edu and wished her greater achievements in the years ahead as she marked the milestone birthday.

 

While the immediate distribution of assistance addressed some pressing needs, the long-term impact of the programme will depend on the sustained delivery of promised support, particularly the scholarships and livelihood initiatives.

 

For displaced families in Benue, access to education, healthcare and reliable sources of income remains central to rebuilding their lives.

 

Edu said her birthday intervention was intended to contribute to that process by helping beneficiaries move beyond temporary relief towards economic independence and eventual resettlement.

 

The initiative also renewed attention to the need for sustained humanitarian assistance in Benue, where displaced families continue to require support from government, development partners and other stakeholders.