Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has marked her 40th birthday with a humanitarian outreach at the Ichwa Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Makurdi, Benue State, where she announced healthcare, educational and livelihood support for displaced families.

The intervention, held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, included a medical outreach, business start-up assistance, vocational equipment and the distribution of food and other essential items.

According to information provided by the organisers, the medical programme was designed to reach more than 10,000 people across displacement camps in the state.

The organisers also announced support for small businesses, educational assistance for displaced children and the distribution of equipment intended to help beneficiaries generate income.

Edu said the initiative was a personal humanitarian undertaking rather than a political activity.

Speaking with journalists during the visit, she explained that she had chosen to spend her birthday with displaced families because of her longstanding interest in humanitarian assistance.

“Today, I am in Benue because it is my birthday. I am here to reach out to thousands of people in IDP camps across the state. This is my passion and my covenant with God and humanity,” she said.

The outreach included plans to provide business start-up grants and vocational equipment to selected beneficiaries.

According to the organisers, the assistance covered 40 business grants, 40 sewing machines, 40 grinding machines, 40 deep freezers and 40 mobile hair-washing kits.

The programme also included vocational training intended to help beneficiaries use the equipment to establish or expand small businesses.

Edu said the initiative was designed to help displaced people regain a measure of financial independence rather than remain dependent on periodic relief distributions.

She explained that access to business equipment and start-up capital could provide opportunities for families whose livelihoods had been disrupted by displacement.

Many displaced households in Benue have experienced difficulties maintaining their previous sources of income after leaving their communities.

For families previously dependent on farming, trading and other local economic activities, displacement can interrupt both employment and access to productive assets.

Edu said the livelihood component of the outreach was intended to address some of those challenges.

Educational support was another component of the birthday programme.

Edu announced a scholarship initiative described by the organisers as targeting 40,000 educational awards over 10 years.

The proposed scheme is intended to support displaced children whose schooling has been affected by insecurity and prolonged displacement.

Edu said access to education remained important for children living in IDP camps, particularly those who had experienced interruptions to their studies.

She explained that the assistance would seek to help beneficiaries return to school and continue their education.

However, details of the proposed scholarship scheme, including its funding arrangements, eligibility requirements, annual targets and implementation partners, were not disclosed.

Beyond scholarships, the organisers said other educational support would be provided to displaced children.

The programme also featured free healthcare services for people living in displacement camps.

Organisers said the intervention was intended to benefit more than 10,000 people across Benue State.

The organisers also distributed food and non-food items, including approximately 4,000 wrappers.

The distribution was intended to provide immediate relief alongside the longer-term livelihood initiatives.

Edu said she had previously visited Benue in 2023 and met some of the displaced families.

She explained that the experience had strengthened her commitment to supporting people affected by displacement.

According to her, the decision to return to the state reflected concern about the continuing humanitarian challenges facing displaced communities.

She also called for greater involvement by development organisations, international partners and private individuals in addressing the needs of displaced families.

Edu said humanitarian assistance should go beyond temporary relief and include measures that support economic recovery and eventual resettlement.

“The real idea is to ensure that we can pull them out of here back to their ancestral homes and permanently settle so they can be productive and support Nigeria with food,” she said.

The former minister argued that restoring livelihoods would help displaced families rebuild their lives and reduce their dependence on external assistance.

However, durable resettlement would also require improved security, access to land, functioning public services and conditions that allow families to return voluntarily and safely.

Edu acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia in responding to the challenges facing displaced persons.

She said the birthday outreach was intended to complement existing humanitarian interventions.

Edu also urged international development partners and other organisations to collaborate with the state government on programmes supporting displaced communities.

According to her, the long-term objective should be to help families rebuild their economic activities and return to stable living conditions.

She maintained that the outreach was not organised for political purposes.

Edu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, described the event as a personal expression of gratitude and service.

The outreach comes amid continuing concerns about the welfare and long-term prospects of people displaced by insecurity in Benue State.

Displacement can create challenges extending beyond the immediate need for food and shelter.

Families may lose access to farmland, employment, schools, healthcare and community support networks.

Livelihood programmes and educational assistance can help address some of these difficulties, particularly when they are sustained and supported by effective monitoring.

The impact of Edu’s intervention will therefore depend partly on whether the announced grants, equipment and scholarships reach their intended beneficiaries and provide lasting support.