Artistes in Bauchi raise funds for North East IDPs
By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi.
Millions of Naira has been raised by singers and other artistes to support the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) devastated by insurgency in the North East region.
The artists organized a concert under the umbrella of ‘Tamburan Fasaha Bauchi’, an Independent Multimedia Association of Bauchi State in collaboration with the state government to raise funds to help the IDPs.
According to the organizers, the concert which saw the launching of an album containing songs on the need for peace by members of the group was also used as a fundraiser.
The artistes explained that the money generated from the sales of the album will be used to help the displaced persons to pick up their lives.
Speaking at the occasion, chairman of the association, Mallam Suleiman SK said that members of the association are moved by the plights of the IDPs who were displaced from their villages and towns by insurgents while some members of their families were killed.
Suleiman said that their association was also approached by some of the IDPs for help which prompted them to conduct the concert and use it as a fundraiser to help the IDPs.
He therefore appealed to wealthy individuals to help the IDPs residing not only in Bauchi State but other parts of the North and elsewhere.
SK also urged government to establish more vocational training centres and upgrade the existing ones so that the IDPs as well as other unemployed young people can be trained on skill which will make them productive and self-reliance.
Deputy National Chairman of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Alhaji Sunusi Mai Jama’a had at the occasion regretted that Nigeria has been allowed to drift towards an uncertain future by the neglect of core values which hitherto were observed to maintain peace in communities.
Mai-jama’a said that the neglect of IDPs will have repercussions on the society as most of the displaced families have lost their breadwinners, and women are left to cater for their families.
He however informed that some people from the region are in touch with some interested bodies through the United Nations to get help for the IDPs through various ways including skill acquisition, education, health and other interventions.
Also speaking, former Bauchi State Grand Khadi, Alhaji Abdullahi Yakubu Marafa said that it is a responsibility of the members of the society especially the wealthy individuals to help the IDPs.
Marafa lamented the conditions in which the IDPs were forced to live, adding that many of them are living with relatives that are poor to cater for their needs such that the society must help them to cater for themselves.
A highlight of the event was the launching of an Album by the representative of the Minister of Youths and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, Alhaji Shehu Aljan.
The minister through his representative bought 10 copies of the album at N200, 000 while Speaker Yakubu Dogara bought 10 copies at N1million through the member representing Lere/Bula constituency in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Mohammed Aminu Tukur.
