Award winning singer/humanitarian, Nikki Laoye has stepped out to support
internally displaced Nigerians via her foundation, Angel 4 Life, with the
relief project tagged "The Angel Relief Fund".
Nikki
Laoye visited the Kuchingoro camp in FCT on Monday, March 23rd, along with her
husband, Alex Oturu; top gospel artists from Abuja (Faith Yebo, Japhy Davies,
Chris Ade, Chris Tover, Samfoni) and officials of the government agency, NCFRMI ...
(National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons)
led by Director of IDPs, Mrs Magaret Essien and Director of Migration, Hajia
Amina Ibrahim.
The
Kuchingoro camp is a makeshift one with houses made of sticks and old sacks of
rice used as walls & windows. The men have also built a viewing centre
using the same materials, for amusement purposes & connection to the
outside world.
The
children were seen attending school on an open field, with the younger ones
learning under the trees while the older ones are taught under a canopy.
Food
supplies, Relief Items and Toys were distributed to the displaced men, women
and children who had moved to the camp from Borno and Adamawa States.
Meetings
were also held with the group leaders of the camp community to discuss their
present situation with promises and plans of future support from the foundation
to help with the empowerment of the men and women as well as the education of
the children on the camp.
The
women and children of the camp sang and danced to celebrate Nikki and the rest
of her team, in appreciation of the love and concern that was shown to them.
In
response, led by singer, Chris Tover, the musicians - Faith Yebo, Japhy Davies,
Chris Ade, Chris Tover, Samfoni with Nikki Laoye also sang and prayed for them
in Hausa.
Kuchingoro
camp is just one of the many IDP camps set up with barely enough room for the
thousands of Nigerians who had run for safety from the North Eastern part of
Nigeria as no fewer than 3.3 million Nigerians were displaced by conflicts in
the immediate past year.
In
line with her service as an ambassador for the NCFRMI commission, Nikki Laoye
has set up The Angel Relief Fund to further support the ongoing relief works
for internally displaced persons (IDPs) within Nigeria, who have been badly hit
by the scourge of violence & terrorism.
Last
year, Nikki Laoye was appointed as the Celebrity Voice for Refugees and IDPs by
the agency's SouthWest zone, to bring to the forefront the activities of the
NCFRMI as well as the plight of refugees & internally displaced persons.
Speaking
about the initiative, Nikki Laoye says "It
is really a sad situation in the north for our fellow brothers and sisters and
we do pray for God's help and strength to our troops to quench this invasion
once and for all. In the meantime, We have to look out for our own and do what
we can to soothe their pains. They are in constant need of food, water,
clothing and more to survive daily as they rebuild their lives once again. It's
the little we can do.
I say a big God bless you to everyone
who has donated and supported this initiative – We are Strong Together, Thank
you".
Nikki
Laoye and her foundation kicked off The Angel Relief Fund last month, with the
support and donations of well meaning individuals, organisations and her fellow
colleagues in the entertainment industry.
A
social media campaign was also created with specially designed promo pictures
of celebrities speaking out for a better Nigeria and soliciting for more
support for the displaced in the North which were shared on their social media
platforms to create further awareness amongst their fan network. They also
supported the relief fund with personal donations.
Some
of the celebrities include Yemi Alade, Show Dem Camp, Faith Yebo, Steve
Babaeko, Anny Ibrahim, Seyi Shay, Oscar & Titi Oyinsan , Waje, Rotimi Keys,
Lara George, Kiki Omeili, Niyola, Ada Ehi, Olaitan Dada, Frank Edwards, Emma
Nyra, Timi Dakolo, Monique, Sammie Okposo, Joe Praize, Mike Abdul, Onos,
Ibitayo Jeje, Omenesa, Gaise Baba, Praiseworld Radio, Capital F.E.M.I, Do2Dtun
of Cool FM, Uche Nnaji of OUCH, ToluFame, Jenny O (HipTV Presenter) and many
more.
Pastor
Tunde Ayeni of Graceville Christian Centre Abuja also supported the outreach
with the provision of two large white buses with drivers to help with the
transportation of the team and relief items to and fro the camp.
Top
media companies in Abuja - Big H Studios and El-Gibbor Video Productions
supported the initiative with free
photography & video services for the day.
#TheAngelReliefFund
initative is an ongoing awareness fund raising campaign to synthesize the
public about the situation in Northern Nigeria and also get more involvement
and donations from the society towards their needs.
All
Donations are used to provide food, medical supplies, care and support for
internally displaced persons at different IDP camps across the nation.
Nikki
Laoye's Angel 4 Life Foundation has actively conducted humanitarian projects in
Nigeria for the past five years and impacted many Nigerians through different
programs for people with disabilities such as the Buy A Cane project for
visually impaired individuals; Inclusive Education projects for physically
challenged students and currently the empowerment and support of internally
displaced Nigerians via The Angel Relief Fund initiative.
Photo
Credit: Big H Studios, Abuja
Video
Credit: El-Gibbor Productions
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