US Supports IDP's in Adamawa with $810, 000

The U.S. has signed a grant agreement of 801,000 dollars with the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, to improve access to education services for internally displaced persons in Adamawa.

Ms Maria Brewer, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy, in her remarks at the agreement signing event in Abuja on Tuesday, said the grant was an additional assistance to the displaced populations in Adamawa.

Brewer said with the 801,000 dollars grant, the U.S. Government’s grant to the university through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) had reached 901,000 dollars.

“Last year, the U.S. Government, through USAID, awarded 100,000 dollars to AUN to provide humanitarian assistance to children of displaced families in Yola,’’ she said.
Brewer added: “AUN has been a good partner in that endeavour. In the spirit of partnership, it is my pleasure to witness today the signing of this agreement to provide an additional 801,000 dollars.
“This programme will not be limited only to schools serving the children in and around Yola.

“It will also support displaced children from other communities who have sought shelter in this community.”



The U.S. official expressed regret that 77 per cent of children in Adamawa could not read at all in any language.

“According to the 2010 National Education Data Survey, more than 53 per cent of Nigerian children between the age of five and 16 cannot read a single sentence in their native language.

“When children struggle to read, they are unable to build a foundation for learning other subjects. Many who struggle will simply drop out of school.