U.S. supports education of IDPs with N150 million

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Tuesday announced its support for the activities of the American University of Nigeria Yola with a grant of $801, 000 for the education of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Speaking at the grant signing ceremony, the US charge-d’affaires, Maria Brewer, said the grant is to improve access to education of Internally Displaced Populations, saying the funds will provide education services for children and youth living in IDP camps and in host communities.

“She added that where education is lacking, people are less likely to attain economic opportunity, which leads to greater poverty and in too many ways, opens doors to extremism and violence,” she said.

Ms. Brewer explained that with the new funding, the total US humanitarian assistance grants to AUN since the start of insurgency crisis in the region is nearly $901.000.

“Education positively affects people’s economic development and general health, while also advancing civil rights,” she said.

USAID is also supporting several humanitarian, transitional and longer-term development activities in north-eastern Nigeria, totalling $87.1million in collaboration with the Nigerian government at the federal, state and local levels.