Plateau Orphan displaced by ‘herdsmen attacks’ sponsors 14 Muslim kids in school

A Central Nigerian youth displaced by herdsmen attacks has enrolled three Muslim children in school.

Mr. Simon David, a Plateau native of Palang village in Riyom Local Government Area, Plateau State, in the last 12 months paid tuition fees for 11 other children in primary and secondary schools, in Adamawa State.

Orphaned at childhood, David lost his house, family and friends in the June 2018 Plateau attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

However, his passion for child development could not let him turn a blind eye to the educational needs of the poor children in the Fulani dominated State.

“I want to solve one of the world’s greatest challenges – girl child education, he told MK.

His primary inspiration according to him came from Pakistani Malala Yousafzia, a young girl child education activist who was shot by Taliban in October 9th, 2012.

“Boko Haram is promoting apathy towards education but Nigeria as the rest of the world needs it to grow so we can’t let the children grow without it,” he said.

His campaign it was learnt started in 2018 when he met a little girl hawking during school hours in Demsa town, the headquarters of Demsa Local Government Area where he served.

After researching and discovering her to be from an extremely poor home, the 30-year began an educational support program using his personal savings.

Aside from paying fees and sowing uniforms for school children, the volunteer teacher organized educational enlightenment seminars in Mosques, extramural classes for students, donated cash for religious activities as well as educational books and movies to students.

Though still receiving personal “threat messages” from suspected herdsmen at home, David’s actions have strengthened peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in Demsa Local Government, says the Demsa Central Mosque in a letter to the NYSC dated 17th October, 2019.

The letter signed by the Chief Imam of the Mosque, Mohammed Umar, and Chairman, Demsa Mosques, Bello Mohammed recommended him for special recognition by the NYSC.

The outgone corps member was however disqualified for a National award for having used his personal resources for the community development projects.

The Adamawa State government is however expected to honor him within the month.

Sources say plans are underway to retain him as a permanent government employee in the State.