As part of its humanitarian services to assist the underprivileged, the Nigerian chapter of UTA, has handed over a letter of admission for full foreign university scholarship
The UTA has taken humanitarian services to a unique level as the letter is for victims of insurgency in one of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps in Abuja.
UTA is a United Nations-accredited non-governmental organisation that has consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The scholarship, which covers their tuition, accommodation, feeding and sundry expenses, is for their four-year programme in the university.
The scholarship was achieved with the support of the university, Insitut Superieur Saint Paul de Tarse (ISSPT) based in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
According to the UTA country president, Princess Abigail Amalaha, who led some members of the board of trustees and staff of UTA to the event, the gesture was UTA’s little way of supporting intelligent students who found themselves in the camp out of no fault of theirs.
Explaining that education is the bedrock of any society, she said that by educating them, they will become better members of the society and will be in a better position to take care of their family and other members in the camp, who are now looking upon them as role models and worthy ambassadors.
She told them that as ambassadors of their people in a foreign land, they should not disappoint both their people and UTA. She admonished them to live an exemplary life over there and always be conscious of their root.
She further stated that the scholarship is for the pilot test, adding that more of them will benefit from the scheme in the next phase.
The beneficiaries are Miss Yohanna Alheri Kitawa, who will study Biotechnology, and Mr. Godwin Matthias Gatawa, who will study Political Science.
Expressing joy and appreciation, amidst tears, on behalf of the family of the recipients and the IDPs, the camp chairman, Mr Philemon Emmanuel, stated that their joy knows no bound. He said that this type of gesture is what they have been expecting from the government. He further explained that they have been in that camp since 2014 with little or no tangible support from the various state or federal governments. He urged other well meaning Nigerians and NGOs to emulate the good work of UTA. He wondered why the government will be more interested in rehabilitating the Boko Haram members whereas they that are victims of the Boko Haram are left to their fate. “What an irony of life,” he wondered.
The high point of the handing over ceremony of the admission letters is the feeding of the children at the camp and handing over of gifts to them by the UTA team.
