The Aliko Dangote Foundation on Monday inaugurated 200 housing units and a school it constructed for widows and orphans among Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Borno.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Executive Chairman of the foundation said at the inauguration in Maiduguri that it was in fulfilment of a pledge he made two years ago.
He disclosed that the foundation had so far spent over N7 billion in providing humanitarian assistance to those displaced by Boko Haram in the Northeast, and would provide N2 billion more.
Dangote said: “You may recall in the last two years when I first paid a visit to the IDPs camp, I made a pledge of N2 billion on behalf of Dangote foundation.
“The gesture was designed to support government to key into the reconstruction of houses that were destroyed and vandalised by Boko Haram.
“It was the decision of the government that the donation should be given in materials and not cash.
“It is against this backdrop and with consultation between the foundation and the state government that we provided building materials which included cement, aluminium roofing sheet, iron rods, ceiling as well as fabricated door and windows worth N1 billion to the state government.
“The 200 housing units would provide accommodation to the IDPs in Borno. Each house is self contained and is built to house a family.
“The state government had also provided skills acquisition kits to enable them become self reliant and enhance their livelihood.
“The state government also built a school for the education of the children which was one of the key aspects that we needed to look into.”
Dangote said that the foundation would release the second batch of N2 billion to continue with the construction of houses for vulnerable people.
“I want to assure you that we will continue to do more until the IDPs are reintegrated back to the society and are able to resume their normal productive lives,” he said.
He solicited for more donation by wealthy individuals towards the resettlement of the Boko Haram victims.
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
