Dream Community Foundation Awards Scholarships, Donates Books, Pays WAEC and Tuition Fees for 45 Less-Privileged Students in Benue

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Dream Community Foundation (DCF), a Non-Governmental Organisation, has extended support to 20 pupils and students in Benue State by donating exercise books and paying their West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and tuition fees.

The foundation also provided school sandals, cash for uniforms and awarded scholarships to an additional 25 students across both public and private schools in the state.

Founder of the organisation, Rahmatu Yakubu Ene, said the gesture was aimed at helping less-privileged children secure a brighter future through education.

The foundation visited two public schools and one private school in Makurdi, where the educational materials were distributed.

Speaking during the presentation of WAEC fees and exercise books at Community Secondary School, Wadata Makurdi, Ene-Yakubu noted that the current economic hardship in the country prompted the intervention.

She explained that many families are struggling to feed, while some children are being sent away from school over unpaid fees. For this reason, her organisation chose to step in.

Ene-Yakubu, an alumna of Community Secondary School where she graduated in 1998, said she decided to return and pay WAEC fees, school fees, levies and provide writing materials for junior students who cannot afford them.

“For now, we are paying WAEC fees for five students and school fees for 10 others in primary and secondary schools,” she said.

She added that her passion for supporting children stems from witnessing people stranded on the streets while growing up. Motivated by compassion, she founded DCF three years ago, officially launching it in 2025.

“We have trained people in catering and fashion design. We currently have 25 people on scholarship under the foundation. Today, we visited three schools—two public and one private—where we donated books, school sandals, paid WAEC fees for SSS 3 students and PTA fees for over 15 pupils.

“For now, I am funding this alone, but I believe that one day I will receive support from individuals and organisations who share this passion so we can reach more people,” she noted.

She urged students to remain committed to their studies and work hard for a successful future.

In his remarks, the Vice Principal (Administration) of Community Secondary School, Makurdi, Mr. Ueter Ferdinand, thanked the foundation for supporting the school and sponsoring students for external examinations. He said the school is especially pleased because the support is coming from a former student. He expressed hope that the gesture would extend further into the wider society.

He appealed to the founder to consider granting scholarships to more less-privileged students of her former school, noting the huge challenge many families face in paying school fees.

Also speaking, the Head Teacher of CAC School, Mrs. Kate Egwu, expressed appreciation to the foundation and the Hausa community for their continuous support.

“This gesture has made us proud, and it is not the first time. Since I assumed duty, the school has received several interventions. They came and fenced our school, donated textbooks, and today they are providing exercise books, sandals and paying PTA fees,” she said.

One of the beneficiaries, Angela Atim, whose WAEC fee was paid by the foundation, expressed gratitude, saying the support came at a time she needed it most. She promised to make the foundation proud with excellent performance.

“I feel good receiving this gesture from DCF. I really appreciate the founder and promise that I will not fail or disappoint her,” she stated.