A group of Youth enthusiasts from Jos made up of grateful Isaac Kim, many male and female students, labour activists, workers, volunteers, and artisans known as Kim must walk Group, on Tuesday 4th April, 2014, in high spirit, stormed the Abuja office of the Hon Minister of Youth and Sports Barr Solomon Dalung, to show their appreciation for the decisive role the Minister has played towards raising needed N16 million, for medical treatment in India for Kim to surmount the spinal cord travails he has been consigned to for the past 8 years.It would be recalled that the Minister personally visited the Car Wash Charity venue in Jos last weekend, which the youth were using to raise fund in aid of Kim – a 300 level undergraduate of University of Jos who had to abandon his studies since 8 years ago, due to health condition described as “spinal cord compression paraplegia secondary to spinal tumor”.
Speaking at the occasion, the leader of the group said the group was propelled by love for the helpless Kim and decided to embark on the Car Wash Charity venture to generate fund towards his treatment in India, believing that “a little drop of water through the little moneys collected will one day make an ocean.” He said the visit of the Minister to the Jos car wash venue last weekend has greatly boosted their hope that their objective is now achievable within a short time.
He said although the group has wished that the personal visit of the Minister would draw more attention to their course, but they could not believe their eyes when the Minister’s direct phone call to his friend promptly yielded a pledge of half of the amount needed; hence their coming to Abuja to thank the Minister.
Welcoming the youth, the Minister described the case of Citizen Kim as an embarrassment and indictment on Plateau State, his local government and the church as an institution; saying it is also a blight on our conscience as a people. He asked how come such a young man could be left on his own to rust away on the sick-bed for 8 consecutive years on account of a health condition that can easily be corrected but for lack of money.
“We have many young people all over the place, that are wasting away daily because of their poor background …..This is sad”
The Minister who confessed that he “was moved by the determination, faith, hope coupled with the zeal of Kim’s friends to succeed”, praised the youth for embarking on a worthy course and enjoined them to expand their activities to other needy Nigerian youth who may either be having serious health challenges, unable to pay school fees or lack food to eat. Dalung also called for more commitment on the part of the elites and those in authority to invest more on sports/ youth development and poverty alleviation.
Barr Dalung later handed over a sealed envelope containing the pledge of his friend to the visitors , and promised to look into their request for Ministry assistance within budgetary provision.
The youth sang songs of praise reminiscent of university days in celebration of what the Minister has done.
Tolu Makinde
Director Press
