CSED (Community Sport and Educational Development) Initiative is set to work towards making the IDP Camp in Uhogua an Edusport Hub (Centre of education and sports excellence). This decision was reached following a recent baseline survey of the IDP Camp that was completed by Edema Fuludu (CSED National Coordinator). There are currently more than four thousand five hundred children and youths at the Uhogua IDP Camp.
The Uhogua Camp started providing care to orphaned children from the troubled North-Eastern Nigeria region, more than five years ago. These children and youths are currently supported by 230 full-time staff, 80 of whom are teachers. Since inception, the IDP has been dependent on financial and material support from the government, corporate organisations, Foundations and some generous Nigerians. However, the IDP Camp currently do not have a full time medical doctor and Physical Education Teacher. Furthermore, the IDP Camp currently does not have a library.
In spite of the hardship that is faced daily by the residents of this IDP Camp; the children attend school regularly and 45 (forty-five) of these residents are currently studying in different universities in Edo State and other part of Nigeria. 133 of these residents wrote the last JAMB examination with a view of getting admission into the university. The school fees and maintenance of the university students are paid from donations received by the IDP Camp Coordinator (Pastor Solomon Folorunsho). The residents of the IDP Camp Uhogua currently keep themselves busy by taking part in football, basketball, athletics and volleyball.
Fuludu had in his address to some of these children and youths reminded them of the importance of working hard in school as education and sport are very important in the character formation and development of an individual. Fuludu used himself as an example of a former Super Eagles player who have been able to combine education and sport and he is now trying to use the experience acquired over the years to inspire and positively influence Nigerian children and youths.
Two weeks after their baseline survey, true to their words, the Trustees of CSED delivered a Stiga outdoor table tennis board, some bats/balls, as well as two volleyball balls to the residents of the Uhogua IDP Camp. At this event the Camp Coordinator, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho praised the Trustees of CSED for keeping their word. Fuludu reminded the enthusiastic children and youths of their responsibility to make good use of the donated table tennis table board.
Furthermore, Fuludu stated that CSED has contacted the Nigeria Cricket Federation with a view of their Development Officers and Coaches coming to do an introduction to cricket clinic at the IDP Camp. Also, CSED has requested for the Edo State Sports Directorate to consider deploying a football coach to the IDP Centre and CSED is willing to subsidise the transport expenses of the allocated football Coach for the period of one year. Fuludu expressed optimism that with the right opportunities, sports coaching, support and determination of the residents; some of them are likely to represent Nigeria in future Olympic Games and international academic seminars.
In order to empower the girls who number more than two thousand; CSED has already contacted the International Netball Federation (INF) in order to seek their support in using netball to develop the sporting, academic and future job prospect of these girls. Since playing the netball game in a safe and nurturing environment will enable the girls to talk about and gradually overcome the trauma that led them to flee from their homes in North-Eastern Nigeria.
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Fuludu stated that before the end of October CSED will deliver three hundred (300) general interest books to the library the Management of the Uhogua IDP Camp intends to set up and the volume of donated books from CSED would be increased to five hundred (500) before the end of the year. CSED also intends to organise a novelty football match between the residents of the IDP Camp and some ex-Super Eagles/Flying Eagles players from Edo/Delta states.