Group raises fund in Atlanta to rebuild Borno schools

Empower54, a humanitarian group based in the United States, at the weekend, held an annual Charity Auction in Atlanta, capital of Georgia state, which was dedicated to raising funds to help in rebuilding schools destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents in different parts of Borno state.

They were made up of legislators from the State of Georgia, officials from international relations department of Georgia’s government, movie actors, Americans, African-Americans from different states in the United States.
Borno state governor, Kashim Shettima, was represented by his Special Adviser on Communications and Strategy, Isa Gusau, at the event, which took place on Saturday night at Besharat Gallery of Arts in Atlanta.

A statement to journalists by Gusau, said during the auction, dozens of high class paintings donated by different creative artists were put up for sale at different prices with opening bids as high as $13,000 for a  40 by 31 inch oil on canvas painting titled ‘Rites of Fertility’ donated by an artist, Leonard El-Dragg Okwoju. Other paintings had different opening prices ranging from $11,000 to the lowest opening bid being $1,500. Invited guests made donations through auctions.
Grand Patron of the Empower54, Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu, through a video message, persuaded donors to support victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in whatever ways they could.

Invited as Special Guest, Shettima expressed gratitude for the support, but however, called on Governments of foreign countries to help in assessing the integrity of numerous Non-Governmental Organisations who seek donations with claims of supporting victims affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in Borno and other parts of the northeast.
Founder and host of the auction, Princess Modupe Ozolua, said after her visits to some parts of Borno state, where she saw very cruel destructions by Boko Haram, she thought it was wise to select rebuilding of schools in order to contribute in the future of the state and to also complement the good works she saw the Borno Government already doing in some communities.