About 50 unusual visitors were at the government house Maiduguri, the troubled Borno state capital, on Tuesday night. These visitors are orphans. They played guests to Governor Kashim Shettima, who broke his fast with them. Besides the fine meal, they bagged all-round sholarship to pursue their education.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Communications, Alhaji Isa Gusau, the governor said the scholarship would cut across orphans from both Muslim and Christian homes.
He promised to also host orphans from Christian homes during Christmas.
The statement said: “The governor told his guests that they should regard him as their father and that he will do everything within his powers to ensure that
they are comfortable and they do not encounter problems in their education.
“The governor called on the orphans to take education very seriously and be of good behaviours so that they would excel in life.
“Shettima presented each of them with two types of assorted textile materials, 50 kilogrammes bags of rice and sugar with some cash for sewing of their textiles ahead of the Sallah coming up in few weeks.
“He called on government officials, wealthy residents and charity organisations to render help to the orphans.
“The governor who interacted with each of the orphans, asking them of their stories, was moved to tears when a young girl recounted how her father and mother were butchered before her eyes while they were praying in their residence in Budum, Maiduguri.
“The venue of the Iftar became emotional when one of the invitees told the governor that he had before Tuesday night, given up on life. He thanked Governor Shettima for brining his hope alive.
“He said his dream is to become an educationist that would touch the lives of others. He offered prayers for God to protect and bless the governor for being kind to them.
“The caretaker chairman of the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Alh. Abdulkadir Rahis, who was part of the Iftar, said his council would come to the aide of the orphans and support them pointing out that it is the first time a governor was breaking fast with that category of people in Borno State.
“A guardian to two of the orphans, Umar Goni Aji, who gave the vote of thanks, thanked Shettima for coming to their aid and for the concern shown to them despite being low rated members of the society. He prayed for Allah to restore peace in the state.”
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