Benue State, Nigeria - In response to its appeal for support in providing emergency food and medical aid to victims of violence, UPF-Nigeria has received donations from Ambassadors for Peace and on April 28, 2014, presented thousands of yams to help feed internally displaced persons in Makurdi, Benue state.
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The yams were received by the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Chief Stephen Lawani, on behalf of the State Governor Gabriel Suswam, in company of the Chief of State to Benue State Governor, Professor Saint Gbilekaa, and the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency as well as some UPF Ambassadors for Peace in Benue state including the Chairman of the Benue State Peace Council, Chief Torngee Jem Tor-Anyiin.
The Ambassadors for Peace Emergency Relief Project for the internally displaced persons in Benue State has been made possible through the donations by Ambassadors for Peace: US$3,000 by Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, and US$400 by Hajiya Dr. Maryam C. Abdullahi, and US$300 by Sir Chief Polycarp and Lady Helen NDOUNTENG JP.
We have arranged for the donation of over 4,000 tubers of yams to displaced persons camps in Makurdi. We directly supervised the buying of the yams as well as local transportation to the camp. The yams have arrived now at the St. Mary Primary school at the North Bank area in Makurdi, where thousands of displaced persons are staying in school classrooms. In addition to the supplies, our message of peace to the displaced persons is "take these items, use them to gain energy but not to seek revenge. These are food for peace, eat them but live in peace no matter the situation."
The formal presentation at the displaced persons camp in Makurdi took place on April 28, 2014 at the St. Mary Primary School in North Bank, Makurdi. The ceremony was honored by the presence of Governor Suswam of Benue State.
UPF-Nigeria thanks all the Ambassadors for Peace who have contributed to make this dream a reality and to those who shall make the second and other phases successful as well.
For background about the appeal and plans for community peace education centers, click here.