Former Face of the World Nigeria Beauty Queen, Jennifer Osayamen Okoobo marks birthday with Internally Displaced Persons in Benin during the Christmas celebration.
December 26th 2023 happens to be her birthday, in her words, “Instead of going to the club to blow thousands on alcohol” she decided to celebrate it with Orphans ,refugees and widows in Edo State IDP camp by donating foodstuffs and other items.
She appreciates her family and friends for taking out time to celebrate her.
She iterated that The foundation has been of huge help to the needy educationally and spiritually .
One of the supervisors at the camp, Pastor Evelyn Omigie, who took everyone around the camp said the foundation set up the camp primarily to cater for the needy and orphans.
According to her, the camp is being sustained principally through donations and charity from individuals, governments and organisations.
Pastor Evelyn said feeding the over 3,000 people in the camp has not been an easy task for the managers of the camp. “So, we need all the support. We have the challenge of sanitation. We need bigger soak-away pits, more toilets, and funds to evacuate the pits that are filled so that there will not be an outbreak of epidemic,” she said.
She added that adequately meeting the needs of the residents in the camp and fulfilling its mission has not been an easy task. This is why pupils live in crowded hostels just as they learn without some basic study materials, including not having adequate furniture and teachers that Government can help put them on payroll in the school, International Christian Schools, where primary and secondary education is provided.
Today, many of the orphans and refugees are in the universities. They have about forty of them studying law and different professional courses in universities across the nation. They have so many that have gained admission and waiting to resume studies. And that is why I am joining them to appeal to Nigerians, governments at all levels, charity organisations, and everyone that loves humanity to come to the aid of these children.
“We need scholarships for them to achieve their academic and lifelong goals.” she said
She also urges the Government and other individuals to have a plan to go back to help the people especially in the healthcare because the community lacks trained medical personnel and medicines such as antibiotics, vaccines,cough medicine etc
Continuing further, as a child was dumped at the entrance of the camp by the child’s mom with a written note that she cannot take care of him anymore, he’s now their responsibility, the child (Simon) is 7 months old and is being taken care of by the foundation.It was discovered that there are equipment and buildings, but the people fit for the job are short in supply.
During terrorist attacks; some persons sustained injury and some had fractures, but due to inadequate care, they ended up with deformities and some eventually died.
They’re seriously in need of drugs at their health centre.
She stated that whatever is given to the foundation is judiciously spent because the managers are very transparent, as residents of the camp are usually informed about what comes in through donations and charity.
However, the Former Face of the World Nigeria Beauty Queen, Jennifer Osayamen Okoobo urges every one that has any celebration to take out time to celebrate with the less privileged “These people really need help, they need food, drugs and all necessities, When celebrating anything I urge you to please go and celebrate with them. Thanks and God bless you as you help others.”
