Media Trust gives over N100m relief to insurgency victims

Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust and Aminiya titles has disbursed over N100 million to victims of insurgency in Northeast Nigeria.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Editor-in-Chief of the organisation, Mannir Dan-Ali made this disclosure when he led a management team of Media Trust on a courtesy call on the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on the North East Initiative (PCNI), General Theophilus Danjuma (Rtd) on Wednesday in Abuja.

"We are the only media house to have successfully launched a fund for the Northeast and over N200 million was pledged but actual collection was N175 million", he said. "Already, over N100 million have been spent and we spent it through the NGOs already operating in the Northeast."

Dan-Ali said: "We have over 100 students on scholarship and we have paid all the money upfront for them."

He also said funds were given to women to start small businesses while some others were supported to acquire skills.

The Media Trust CEO also said the organisation was on the verge of constructing either a school or a healthcare centre in the region.

He therefore, advised the PCNI to take advantage of the newspaper’s popularity in the North to connect with the people.

While noting that Media Trust had been in the forefront in the fight against insurgency as well as publicising the plights of victims of the insurgency, Dan-Ali said the organisation was the first to begin a countdown of the kidnapped Chibok school girls.

Responding, Theophilus Danjuma who was represented by the Vice Chairman of the PCNI, Tijjani Tumsah said the organisation was to be the coordinator of all efforts towards victims of insurgency in the Northeast.

He said efforts were underway to re-open the Chibok Girls School years after over 200 girls were kidnapped in the school, adding that "the school will re-open in the next academic session."