With increasing insecurity in the country, the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) does not seem to be subsiding. The renewal of the IDP Support programme of the Grooming People for Better Livelihood Centre and Sesor Empowerment Foundation indicates there is hope to mitigate IDPs’ dire situation especially in Lagos and Makurdi for women and children displaced by insurgency and other insecurities through the provision of their most-urgent needs: relief, funding and housing.
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two parties on Thursday, May 27, 2021, Grooming People for Better Livelihood Centre renewed its partnership support to Sesor Empowerment Foundation (Sesor) by donating ₦14.25 million towards its continuing work with IDPs in Lagos and Benue. This partnership, now in its 7th year is focused on the significant efforts by Sesor in providing nutritional & psychological support, financial independence, educational support, housing support as well as recreational facilities for IDPs and their families.
Speaking at the signing, which held at Grooming Centre’s Head Office, the CEO of Grooming Centre, Dr. Godwin Nwabunka expressed his gratitude for the impact made by Sesor Foundation in the lives of hundreds of internally displaced women and children through the years, and noted that the situation in the country now makes the work Sesor does even more pertinent, he reiterated the Centre’s commitment to this cause and the general work of empowerment.
The Co – founder and CEO of Sesor Empowerment Foundation, Ier Jonathan-Ichaver expressed her appreciation for the invaluable partnership and support the Centre has provided through the years, she thanked the grooming centre for renewing their commitment to the well being of IDPs especially in a year that has been so difficult, she noted that ‘while support from many others have reduced during these trying times, the grooming centre has increased its support by 30%, reaffirming their trust in the impact of the work Sesor does.’
Other aspects of the MOU between the Grooming Centre and Sesor Empowerment Foundation include maintaining the Safe Day Spaces, monitoring the living conditions of 100 displaced women and disbursement of funds to 30 new beneficiaries in Lagos and Benue states, piloting a 2-day agricultural training for 80 displaced women in Lagos and Benue.
Since the partnership between the Grooming Centre and Sesor Empowerment Foundation was initialled in 2014, over N40 million has been dedicated to the provision of relief for over 2000 IDPs across eight states in Lagos and Benue states.
