I Was So Poor I Couldn’t Afford School Uniforms

The Vice-Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos, Prof. Danjuma Sheni, has painted a picture of how he was sent out from school because of his torn school uniform.

Sheni said that memories of his struggle with poverty and deprivation as a youth had shaped his decision to set up the Decent Danjuma Foundation four years ago to cater for the needs of widows in the society.

He also recalled that he ate only one meal a day and at one point, his mother had to sell their pig and used the proceeds to buy uniforms for him and his siblings.

A statement issued on Monday by the Assistant Public Relations Officer of PLASU, Nankpah Bwakan, said Sheni narrated his experiences after giving out items to widows as part of the foundation’s activities marking the celebration of Christmas.

The VC said the DDG had empowered over 100 widows through the provision of grants for businesses, sewing machines and computers.

Other forms of assistance rendered to widows by the organisation include the payment of school fees for children of widows, provision of financial assistance and clothes, in addition to the building of houses to ease accommodation problems faced by the needy.

The VC said the establishment of the DDF was in accordance with the religious admonition to help the orphans and widows as well as his poor background