Active Peace practitioner and the Director of Programme at Plateau State Peace Building Agency, Mr. Godwin Okoko Atekpa celebrated his birthday on Sunday, 11th April 2021 with over 100 orphans and community children at Maingo chiefdom, Bassa Local Government Area.
Mr. Okoko in the spirit of celebration placed 10 of the children from different villages on an educational scholarship to the secondary school level. The orphan children are among the many children who lost their parents to the farmers and herders violent conflict within the chiefdom.
He said he was grateful to God for adding another year as such he wanted to mark it by giving back with the help of some of his friends and associates. He noted that the Irigwe community has suffered from violent conflict as such the gesture was a way of encouraging the community while rendering help.
The celebrant also said from his work and experience, the victims of violent conflict have been severally been neglected with concentration shifted to the perpetrators. He called on other well-meaning individuals to support the initiative by reaching out to some of the victims who are still suffering.
In response, Mr Ezekiel Peter Bini, the National President of the Irigwe youths movement, said the community was quite appreciative of the gesture and delivered a gift to him as a token of appreciation and for his birthday on behalf of the youths.
Chief Daniel Cheda, the district head of Miango, who was represented at the occasion by the Village Head of Zahada, chief Zamfara Shezhi Gde. also thanked the birthday celebrant for the philanthropic gesture with the presentation of a gift.
