The paramount ruler of the Atyap Chiefdom, Agwatyap in the Zango Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Dominic Yahaya, recently , donated over N4 million to 118 orphans out of the 267 captured.
The occasion was at the launching of a foundation, ‘Jumma Gambo Yahaya Foundation’ to assist in catering for the education of the victims of terrorists attack in his chiefdom.
“This is meant for their scholarship aimed at assisting orphans, who lost their parents during the attacks in their educational careers, ” he said.
According to the monarch, what informed his decision to launch the foundation, was the giant stride of Governor Zulum of Borno State toward promoting the education of orphans who were victims of the Boko Haram crisis.
He said his chiefdom has experienced similar sad development, hence the need to assist the orphans.
“The several attacks that took place in my chiefdom from 2020 to 2023, brought untold hardship and turned my people vulnerable, their houses were razed down while their loved ones were brutally killed,” he said.
He disclosed that his chiefdom has experienced several killings and a lot of NGOs came to their rescue by bringing assistance like building materials, food items, etc. Still, nobody thought about the orphans, and that occurred to him to kick- start the process of launching a foundation that will cater to their needs.
“The poverty level in the village is so much that it is difficult for someone to take responsibility for his family and another person.
We are calling on highly spirited individuals, both inside and outside the country, state and Federal Governments to assist by keying into this project in educating our children.
The monarch explained further that this was the first batch of the scholarship which cut across seven communities, including Hausa Fulanis who were also victims of the carnage.
The Executive Chairman of the Local Government, Francis Zimbo, commended the effort of the monarch and supported the foundation with the sum of N1.5 million while urging privileged individuals to key into ensuring that the victims get the required education they need.
Zimbo said the council on its own has been doing so much in settling the medical bills and school fees of some of the victims.
The Chairman of the occasion, Barnabas Tagan, said the Jumma Gambo Yahaya Foundation Scholarship was a tribute to their rich heritage and an embodiment of their collective responsibility towards the most vulnerable members in their communities, stressing that this was a reflection of their values of compassion, unity, and progress.
According to Tagan, this effort symbolised their unwavering commitment to providing hope and a brighter future for those who have faced adversity.
“Orphans and widows often bear the brunt of life’s harshest trials. They are left to navigate a challenging world with limited resources and support. He however noted that it was during these times of adversity that we must step forward and extend a helping hand.
“We launch this scholarship with the conviction that education is the most potent tool for transformation. He added that education empowers individuals to break the cycle of poverty, opens opportunities, and instils self-confidence. It was our firm belief that by supporting the education of orphans, we can uplift entire families and, in turn, our entire communities.”
