Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Constituency Projects, Dickson Tarkigh, has taken over the education of a 17-year-old in Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp, Aondona Terver, who scored 301 in the last Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) tests.

Tarkigh resolved to take over the funding of the displaced boy’s tertiary education when he gleaned the report from the media.

When The Guardian reached out to the National Assembly member to confirm his scholarship to the boy, he replied in the affirmative.

He stated: “The eponymous character of this update is an IDP. Like many of my constituents of Makurdi Guma Federal Constituency, he and his family have been displaced by armed bandits masquerading as herdsmen. Together with his family, he is seeking refuge at the IDP camp in Daudu, Guma Local Council of Benue. Despite the psychological impact and other very discomforting effects of being displaced, Terver sat for the recent JAMB exams and scored 301.

“To this end, I have undertaken to sponsor his university education. He applied to read Medicine at Benue State University (BSU), Makurdi. I have already spoken with the Vice Chancellor of BSU and notified him of my desire to pay the boy’s tuition up front as soon as his admission into the institution is finalised.”

The lawmaker announced the commencement of payment of the yearly scholarship of N50,000 to 210 successful applicants.
The young man, whose family was displaced after their village in Guma was razed by terrorists, lives on the benevolence of public-spirited individuals and the occasional support of the state government.

It was from charity at the IDP camp that the Science student attended ECWA Secondary School at North Bank in Makurdi.