By Williams Danjuma, Gombe
MATINAAH Care Foundation has perfected plans to enroll more students into its full educational scholarship programme in Jengre community of Plateau State in an effort to assist vulnerable children build better future.
Already, the foundation had provided full educational scholarships to 22 students across Nigeria, comprising 10 students in Maiduguri, Borno State, two students in Jengre and 10 students in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The foundation revealed this during its “Assist a child, build a future” Ophan Conference, held at Hyde Memorial Secondary School (HMSS) Jengre, on Tuesday.
Speaking at the event, a member of the foundation, Mrs Nkechinyere Gad Maigadi, explained that there is hope for every child facing life’s difficult challenges when a help is offered.
In her presentation on the topic, ‘Orphan: From Identity and Grief to Resilience’, building resilience through practical life skills duringthe conference, Maigadi described resilience as the ability to recover from life’s challenges.
She added that: “It is like a rubber, it stretches under pressure but it does not break”.
She encouraged the students to replace negative self-talk with hopeful thinking. “Instead of saying, ‘I can’t do it,’ say, ‘It is difficult, but I can figure it out,'” she told the students.
Maigadi also emphasized the importance of building healthy support systems through friendships, mentorship, and the buddy system as practical ways to overcome trauma, rejection, low self-esteem, and emotional loss.
In her presentation titled, ‘Taking Care of Yourself: Health, Hygiene, and Self-Respect—A Pathway to Academic Excellence’, Miss Miriam Sam Okere, reminded the students that they should never allow painful experiences define their future.
According to her, “Pain is not permission to give up,” she said, while recommending practical coping strategies such as talking to trusted adults, journaling, praying, participating in healthy recreational activities, and maintaining positive friendships.
She then encouraged the students to embrace a broader understanding of family stressing, “Your family is not only those who gave birth to you. Teachers, pastors, caregivers, uncles, aunties, and the community can also become your family.”
Principal of Hyde Memorial Secondary School, Mr. Bawa Ishaya Maikudi, expressed deep appreciation to the Foundation for its compassion and generosity. He said, “you have demonstrated a heart of gold. May God continually replenish the source of your resources,” he prayed.
Beneficiaries of the scholarship programme in HMSS, Simon Laban, supported from 2026–2028, and Michael Gaskan, supported from 2026–2030, expressed heartfelt gratitude to MATINAAH Care Foundation for considering them worthy of the educational support.
Earlier, Retired Pastor Mika Simon Nasamu delivered a devotion from Isaiah 43:19, encouraging the students to look beyond their past struggles and embrace God’s promise of a new beginning. It was then followed by a moving drama presentation by the students.
The drama portrayed the harsh realities faced by many orphaned children, and in one emotional scene, a child roasting corn to survive collapsed from hunger. The performance concluded with a heartfelt appeal through a song: “Show mercy and love to the orphans.”
Goodwill messages were delivered on behalf of Elder Bitrus Bako Nabasu, former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, by Architect David Ezra Nabasu and Pastor Joshua Ezra Mallum, President of the Plateau-Bauchi Nigeria Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, who commended the Foundation for investing in the lives and future of vulnerable children.
MATINAAH Cara Foundation’s core focus is in ensuring that every orphaned and vulnerable child understands that they are valued, unique, and never alone. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting orphans and vulnerable children through education, advocacy, mentorship, healthcare, and hope-driven interventions.
The Foundation works with communities, schools, and partners to empower children to overcome adversity and realize their full potential.
Leave a comment