NGO builds school for orphans in Katsina 

USA-based NGO, Islamic Ummah Relief (IUR), has constructed an orphanage home and a school for orphans and other less privileged children in Katsina State.

The facility is designed to offer sound and standard education to the orphans as well as the less privileged children in society.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the facility, which is named “The Magnet Academy At Alhuda,” has a motto: “Nurturing the minds and spirit of our future generation.”

Commissioning the edifice, Gov. Dikko Radda applauded the group’s foresight for initiating such projects for the benefit of orphans and other less privileged children in society.

“What we saw today is something that touched our hearts.

“The IUR Chairman told us that he grew up as an orphan and was taken care of by his mother until Almighty Allah gave him the opportunity to go to America for study, after which he resided there.

“He didn’t forget what happened to him when he was young. That’s why he established the school in Katsina. In fact, this school is among the comprehensive schools that everyone would want to send their child to,” he said.

Radda, therefore, thanked the chairman for the initiative and urged other people to emulate the gesture by supporting orphans to also achieve their potential in life, just like other children.

Earlier, the IUR Chairman, Mr. Zahradeen Ibrahim-Hassan, said that “he is an indigene of Katsina State but resides in America.”

According to him, the NGO is also working in other countries like Ghana, Niger, and Uganda.

“IUR now focuses attention on orphans from four to six years old, to give them not only a sense of belonging but also to pave the way for them to achieve their potential in the future.

“We want to give them sound education, considering how the North is left behind in western education, while economic constraints affect the education of such children.

“We started the journey six years ago, thanks to Almighty Allah Who made our efforts a reality today,” he said.

Also, the Director of the institution, Mr. Auwal Mohammed-Giyade, said the education and other services were free of charge, adding that scouting for genuine orphans to benefit from the gesture had already started.

He noted that the school enrolled about 25 to 30 children for Kindergarten, up to the secondary school level as the pioneer beneficiaries.

According to him, all necessary facilities are already provided to enhance learning and improve the living conditions of the beneficiaries while in the orphanage home.

“Here, we have hostels, playgrounds, play toys, enough classes, a library, other learning materials, a clinic, three meals for each pupil, and other basic needs – all free of charge.

“All these will be provided by the IUR, and it neither belongs to the government nor has any affiliation with any political party,” he confirmed.

The director revealed that the services would start after the commissioning, assuring that the NGO had made adequate arrangements to ensure sustainability.