The Academic Staff Union of Universities has donated food and non-food items to the Internally Displaced Persons in Benue State.
Making the donations at the Abagana IDP camp in Makurdi, on Tuesday, the National President of the union, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, said they were in the state to show kindness to the Benue IDPs.
The president who was represented by the National Resource Person, Professor Ralpy Ofokwu said the donation was a national programme embarked upon by the union.
The President said, “The purpose of our visit today is to show the kindness of ASUU, the kindness that ASUU has been fighting for the upliftment of the masses.
“One of them is what we are doing throughout the country. As we are here in Abagana camp, ASUU is also in Niger, Gombe, and other places, giving this to those who are marginalized, especially at this time of excruciating poverty, time our people are suffering from fuel subsidy removal and a time when people at the camp have nothing to eat.
“That is why we have come with a total number of 1,246 bags of assorted food items including rice, beans, groundnut oil and other ingredients. We have also brought cartons of sanitary towels for the use of women in the camp,” he said.
Professor Stella-Maris Okey, former National Welfare Officer of ASUU, expressed sadness over the number and conditions of the IDPs especially pregnant women and children saying the situation calls for urgent action.
“It’s so sad, in a country that has so much money. We know what our leaders and senators are taking home. What stops the government from providing security for them to go back? Staying here, we are encouraging people to mass reproduce.
“Looking at the number of children, pregnant young ladies in the camp, it is so unfortunate that a country referred to as the giant of Africa has these kinds of serious challenges. So I am calling on the Federal Government to come to the aid of the suffering masses and assist us,” she added.
