Governor Kashim Shettima has commissioned the Muhammadu Indimi Village for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Bama, and also flagged off a second phase of the resettlement initiative in Gamboru-Ngala by the Muhammadu Indimi Foundation.

The event took place earlier today, a day after Nigeria’s 58th Independence anniversary, and marks the commencement of a long-awaited exodus of more IDPs from camps to new homes in Bama.

The #MuhammaduIndimiVillage is a complete community with 100 solar-powered 3-room homes, clinic, school, community centre and marketplace. 100 previously displaced families from Bama have been selected as beneficiaries. At least 600 children, women and men are expected to benefit from the first phase of the resettlement initiative in Bama.

This is the second phase of the housing projects by the Foundation where hundreds of families are expected to find refuge.

Governor Kashim Shettima who was visibly happy with the gesture of the Borno born billionaire, said that the gesture of the foundation to construct 100 homes worth hundreds millions of Naira was a huge intervention designed to alleviate the suffering of the displaced persons in the state.

“On behalf of the people and the Government of Borno state, I humbly wish to accept and thank you for the life changing interventions towards improving the living standard of the people of the State.

Shettima further stated that in 2014, Indimi had donated $5m for a social and reintegration program of the Federal Government.

"His contribution and that of other stakeholders including the Government was used to fund the Victims Support Fund (VSF), made to do key livelihood and life saving interventions in communities ravaged by Boko Haram." he said.

During the handing over the Muhammadu Indimi Village to the Emir of Bama on behalf of the Bama people, the Borno State Governor said Dr. Indimi was a prominent philanthropist among well-meaning Nigerians.

“Donating a community for the rehabilitation of 100 IDPs, fully equipped with clinic, school, shops and many more, is not a little achievement. It only goes to prove the purity of his intentions, depth of his selflessness, strength of his character and compassion for fellow citizens of Borno. What is particularly interesting is that Dr. Indimi founded one of the first indigenous oil and gas companies in Nigeria, Oriental Energy Resources Limited.
He is a job creator and spreads wealth for the stability of our nation. We are mightily proud of him, the critical interventions he has made and his lifetime commitment to the social welfare of our people,” Governor Shettima said.

One of the beneficiaries, Mohammed Mustapha who has a family of 17 and had been in Dalori camp in Maiduguri for more than 4 years, described the impact of moving to a new home. “We had forgotten what it is like to have a home again, the good life. You’ve wiped our tears. I will never forget this,” he said.

Founder of the Foundation, Alhaji (Dr) Muhammadu Indimi, OFR revealed that the Borno Elders’ Forum had worked very closely with the Foundation to identify the one hundred families.

“People in North-East Nigeria have been through difficult times. We sympathize greatly with them. Our goal is to create and support initiatives with long-term impact. It is no small responsibility, but we will remain committed to finding sustainable, life-changing solutions for our people.
The Indimi Foundation believes that our men, women and children need all the help they can get to rebuild their lives,” Dr Indimi said.

To support more families, the Muhammadu Indimi Foundation will commence construction of one hundred houses for the resettlement of families in Gamboru-Ngala.

The resettlement initiative is one the Foundation’s livelihood programmes which have included a donation of two billion naira to support victims of terrorism in the North East, two hundred million naira to rehabilitate IDPs in Yola, full scholarships to more than 2000 students, donation of pharmaceuticals and medical equipment, financial aid as well as distribution of food and cash to at least forty thousand persons in Maiduguri camps.

Since 2013, the Muhammadu Indimi Foundation joined local and international humanitarian organisations to work on rehabilitation initiatives for millions of victims of insurgency who were uprooted from their homes in North-East Nigeria.

http://www.metronaija.ng/photos-indimi-foundation-completes-100-homes-for-bama-idps-flags-off-ngala-phase/

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