Musa Na Allah Sokoto
Musician and American film actor, Umar Usman, also known as Sojaboy, has established a charity foundation and distributed educational materials and other supports to less privileged students in Sokoto state.
Launching the foundation on Monday in Sokoto, Usman said he assumed himself privileged at present and deemed it fit to consider the plights of other vulnerable children in the society.
He said that as an indigene, he grew up as a less privileged child from a humble background who went through different forms of struggles to earn a living.
According to him, the foundation was intended to support the less privileged persons, especially children in communities to reciprocate Almighty for successes achieved in life.
“I started with some schools and provided cartons of chalk, exercise books, textbooks, school uniforms, food items, detergents, and cash as supports.”
The actor said that the targeted beneficiaries include orphans, displaced persons, indigent students, and others.
He urged other wealthy Nigerians to support the less privileged in the society, stressing that some people needed small assistance such as uniforms, books, and feeding to enroll their children in schools.
Usman added that the foundation’s supports would be extended in other areas such as Kebbi and Zamfara states noting that foreign connections would also be utilized to attract more support for the foundation activities.
The Foundation’s Secretary, Malam Faruk Yusuf, said that the efforts were to support his community, having grown up a less privileged child.
Yusuf said the foundation is also planning business empowerment training, skills acquisitions, schools’ enrolment drives, and others livelihood supports in its activities.
According to him, the activities have started yielding positive impacts in recognition of present situations as result of security challenges.
A popular Islamic Scholar, Dr. Jabir Maihula, described the foundation activities as beneficial to human beings which were in line with religious provisions.
Maihula enjoined people to use their wealth in assisting people of need and other vulnerable persons in society.
The Director, Social Mobilization of Sokoto State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Alhaji Kabiru Aliyu, commended the foundation for recognizing education in its activities.
Aliyu described education as a pillar of life and best empowerment that uplifts people’s well-being and urged other wealthy Nigerians to emulate Usman in supporting the education sector.
The event witnessed the presentation of awards to distinguished personalities as well as offered prayers for the nation’s peaceful coexistence and capacity to overcome security challenges.
