Actress Lisa Yaro renovates schools, donates educational materials to IDPs camp
Lisa Yaro, a Nigerian-American actress and singer, also known as ‘Queen of the North’, has renovated school buildings and made donations of educational materials for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The humanitarian artist handed the renovated classrooms for both children and adult education, notebooks, and school uniforms to the IDPs at their camp in the Durunmi area on Friday in Abuja.
Lisa Yaro told the newsmen that the gesture was part of her ‘Back to School Project’, an educational intervention initiative geared towards ensuring that out-of-school children get an education.
“The first time I came here, I saw what was needed—I saw a school that was shut down, so I made a promise that I would have the school reopened.
“I am pleased to announce that we are reopening the school today and we are staffing it with teachers as well as uniforms and blackboards for them to learn.
“For me education is very important, and I want to be a vessel to show people that no matter how big or how small, you can always give back.
“The government cannot do it alone, so we all have to do our own parts and by me doing my part, it is my hope that it will inspire somebody else to do their own.
“We are employing teachers and paying them for the first year, and I will renew it again,and like I said, this is an initial seed that I am planting.
“It is my hope that other people will continue to plant seeds as well, and we shall have a beautiful garden in our lives,” she said.
In his remarks, Mr. Idriss Halilu, coordinator and spokesman for the IDP camp, commended Queen of the North for her show of compassion and love towards the less privileged.
According to him, the schools have been shut down for some years now because of a lack of remuneration for teachers and study materials for children.
Halilu therefore called on Nigerians of good will and leaders, especially the FCT authorities, to pay adequate attention to the welfare of IDPs.
“The school has been closed down since 2017, but today we are happy that somebody has reached out, refurbished it, and bought uniforms, books, and furniture for us.
“As I speak, the IDPs’ food comes from individuals, 99 percent of the clothes we wear come from individuals, and ignoring the IDPs will not speak well for the future of this country,” he said.
Also speaking, Mrs. Liyatu Ayuba, Women Coordinator of the camp, said, “Many people do come here to make promises, and they are not fulfilling the promises.
“But our Queen Lisa has fulfilled her promise for us, as she told us that she is going to repair the school for our children and bring uniforms and books and even the teachers.
“They asked us why the teachers are not coming to school always, and we said it is because of the transport fare that they are not coming always.
"We will not go back to being victims of Boko Haram again, so I am calling on the Nigerian government to let us join hands together to train these children so that they will be the leaders of tomorrow,” she said.
