The initiative, which targets school-aged children in displacement-affected areas, distributed school bags, exercise books, pencils, erasers, and other supplies to ease the financial burden on parents at the start of the new academic session.
Founder of the foundation, Ogonna Kanu, said the project was created to ensure that displaced and vulnerable children are not left behind in Nigeria’s education system due to the hardships of displacement.
The Kits4Kids project is something we do every year in different communities. We distribute school supplies to displaced children to support their parents and encourage education. This is our first time in Cross River, and we chose Bakassi because of the number of displaced persons here.
—Ogonna Kanu, Founder, Refuge Foundation for Displaced Persons
Kanu explained that although the foundation is small and volunteer-driven, it has reached over 400 children since inception, with previous editions held in Lagos and Oyo States.
A Timely Intervention
At the launch event, community leaders and school officials described the initiative as timely and impactful.
The Headteacher of Government Primary School, Ogkuku Barakpa, Mr. Orok Duke, said many parents in the community struggle to provide even the most basic school materials.
“Most parents cannot afford to buy books or bags, but this programme will encourage them to send their children to school. We are very glad for this support,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs. Nyong Nsa, a teacher at Government Primary School, Esighi, commended the foundation, noting that the donation had boosted pupils’ enthusiasm for learning.
“The children are so excited, and we truly appreciate what the Refuge Foundation has done for us,” she said.
Encouraging Hope Amid Hardship
A former councillor of Ward 2, Esighi, Hon. Felix Eyo, who helped facilitate the programme, described the initiative as a “life-changing intervention” for children in the community — many of whom, he noted, have been displaced by the lingering Nigeria–Cameroon border dispute.
“Some of our children are in tattered clothes and face hardship daily. This kind of support adds value to education and encourages them to stay in school. As displaced people, we need more assistance from both government and NGOs,” he said.
Eyo added that pupils from three primary schools in Esighi benefited from the programme to ensure broader impact and inclusion.
Building Futures Through Education
Community members expressed gratitude to the foundation and called on more humanitarian organisations to extend similar support to displaced populations in Bakassi and across Nigeria.
The Refuge Foundation, founded by Ogonna Kanu after her research into displacement and peacebuilding, continues to champion the rights of internally displaced persons through education, psychosocial support, and community rebuilding efforts.
