Edo IDP camp coordinator bags ‘living legacy’ humanitarian award

Nathan Tamarapreye

Mr Solomon Folorunsho, the Coordinator of the Home for the Needy Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, on Wednesday bagged the “Living Legacy” humanitarian award.

The award ceremony, which was held in Abuja, was organised by the Humanitarian Service Diamond Awards (HSD Award).

According to the organisers of the award, Folorunsho bagged the award in recognition of his exceptional track record towards national development, societal upliftment and relentless service to humanity.

Speaking shortly before he received the award, Folorunsho said that it was important to put “humanitarian activity into life”.

He said that it was the duty of the humanitarian community to work hard to prevent and alleviate suffering wherever it is found, prioritising the most vulnerable.

“I want every one of you in the humanitarian community to know that you are all very special in the hands of God.

“If you look closely today, Nigeria is a huge humanitarian society, and there are many people who need every one of you.

“Everybody you see today crying in the streets or suffering; the person you look at through the window is a potential doctor, engineer, president, lawyer, etc.

“Though we are in Nigeria today and may not be many, the work we are doing will inspire others to join us.”

The coordinator noted that when a person stretches their hand to help the needy, whether Muslims or Christians, they touch the heart of God.

“My experience shows that these are the people that God will bless, no matter their age.

“There are lots of people in society who are weak, suffering, disabled, homeless and displaced, especially in this country, Nigeria, you find them everywhere.

“You see crime increasing, that is because when some persons don’t know what to do or get no help, they resort to self-help, which is the criminality you are seeing everywhere.

“So if we give equal opportunity to every human being, we are going to produce good results everywhere,” he said.

He added that at the Home for the Needy IDP camp, every activity was borne out of the need to render humanitarian services, because the vulnerable and less privileged were human beings too.

“They deserve what I have and what is good for me. And of course, you know, love your neighbour as yourself. Nigerians are neighbours to themselves, and everybody you see there that needs your help is your neighbour.

Similarly, Dr Bashir Jamoh, immediate past Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), and also one of the awardees, said that Nigerians in the North East geo-political zone were the most vulnerable ones.

Jamoh said that residents in the North East were subject to attack from time to time, and even threats by the men of the underworld.

“Sometimes they are attacked, killed, maimed for no reason, but It is our duty to ensure that we structure a kind of organisation that all the humanitarian bodies can come under in a particular umbrella to protect the aid workers that are working tirelessly day and night and ensure that they achieve what they want to achieve.

He also urged the media to change the narrative with their reportage by educating the public and letting them know the common terms that harm the less privileged in terms of humanitarian activities.

“It is our sincere duty for each of us to see how we can give a helping hand to the media teams that call and send the signals to the country and the world at large about the problems we are facing.

“Nigeria is being tagged as one of the most dangerous countries in terms of vulnerability of those who provide their aid support in terms of humanitarian activities,” the former NIMASA boss noted.

The HSD Award is an annual event that celebrates individuals and organisations in Nigeria for their significant contributions to humanitarian causes and societal development.

The awards celebrate compassion, service, and the pursuit of human dignity, highlighting those who have made lasting impacts through community development, philanthropy, and social responsibility.

The 2025 edition was held in commemoration of World Humanitarian Day, which is held annually on Aug. 20.