…Distributes food items, supports women-led businesses, announces 40,000 educational scholarships
Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has marked her 40th birthday with a humanitarian outreach at the Ichwa Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Makurdi, Benue State, featuring medical services, food distribution, educational support and empowerment packages for vulnerable Nigerians.
The outreach, organised as part of activities to commemorate her milestone birthday, was designed to provide relief to displaced persons, support women’s economic empowerment and create opportunities for education and sustainable livelihoods.
Among the initiatives announced for the celebration were 40,000 educational scholarships across Nigeria, 40 business start-up packages for women, 40 grinding machines, 40 deep freezers with generators, 40 sewing machines and 40 hairdressing start-up kits, alongside training for beneficiaries.
The programme also featured a medical outreach aimed at addressing the healthcare needs of beneficiaries at the Ichwa IDP Camp.
In addition to the empowerment initiatives, the birthday outreach included the distribution of 4,000 wrappers, 4,000 bags of rice and 40 birthday cakes as part of efforts to provide relief and support to displaced families.
The initiatives are intended to promote access to education, strengthen women’s economic independence and equip beneficiaries with practical tools to establish small businesses and improve their livelihoods.
The organisers also outlined plans to mobilise grassroots women for community engagement and door-to-door campaigns in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia.
The political mobilisation component is expected to involve grassroots outreach and engagement with communities in support of the two leaders.
The celebration, themed around service, leadership and impact, reflects Edu’s stated commitment to humanitarian assistance, women’s empowerment, educational opportunities and grassroots development.
By combining relief distribution with skills acquisition and business support, the initiative seeks to address immediate needs while creating pathways towards greater self-reliance among vulnerable individuals and families.
The 40th birthday outreach at the Ichwa IDP Camp brought humanitarian assistance and empowerment activities to the centre of the celebration, highlighting the role of community-focused interventions in supporting displaced persons and other vulnerable groups.
