PROJECT_INSPIRE: Can we meet you?
Victor: My name is Victor Eneji Bello, I am a change maker, a humanitarian and a peace building enthusiast. I am the founder of The Victor Bello Foundation. I am from Kogi State Nigeria; I live in the city of Jos,Plateau state.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Tell us briefly your childhood experience.
Victor: I grew up in the city of Kaduna with my parents and siblings; I grew up always wanting to be medical doctor because I wanted to reach out to people with free medication. I started writing song in my childhood too. One thing I have been passionate about since childhood is seeing people happy. I grew up wanting to be an answer to someone's prayer.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What’s your educational background?
Victor: I finished my primary school at Demonstration School Kaduna before moving to Fezon Secondary School Kaduna and then to Wisdom College Kogi State. I am currently a student of the prestigious University of Jos Plateau state Nigeria, studying Industrial chemistry.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your contributions towards making Nigeria a better place?
Victor: Having an ideal society has always been my dream for our great Nation Nigeria and that’s is why I founded the Victor Bello Foundation with the aim to add value to livelihood. Our vision is to create a network of young people who will be of relevance to the society by contributing their own quota in building an ideal society. Our mission is to put smiles on the face of many lives, as often as we can, and to change lives that would lead us to achieving our ideal society.
PROJECT_INSPIRE:What have your achievements been?
Victor :In August 2019, we reached out to an IDP camp at Plateau State, Nigeria. The selected cluster was comprised of about 700 households, the Swat was badly affected by insurgency. The Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) suffered a lot. The houses of many IDPs were totally destroyed, their farms(their primary source of income) were destroyed too and they had to start their life from the scratch. The main objective of our visit to this IDP camp was to enhance and improve the living condition of the residents by: providing food items, mosquito nets, cloths and toiletries. As a result, their living standard has been increased and they have all returned to their various villages. We have also been able to reach out to 11 local communities; creating medical awareness on self-care, providing medical aid and counsel on personal hygiene. We initiated the Almajeri Scholar Scheme project February, 2020 but we couldn’t run the project because of the COVID19 lock down. We kick started the project in May, 2021, where we started organizing evening classes for these Almajeris in communities around us. We run these classes trice a week. We intend to also teach vocational skills to equip these children so that they can have a life out of the streets. We conveyed the Made for More conference 2021 in Jos plateau state. The conference was a self-development program for young people and the aim of the initiative was achieved.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What motivated you to do what you are doing?
Victor:My desire is to see Nigeria transform into an ideal society and all I do is my quota to birthing that reality.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What has been your major challenge since you began your non-profit organization?
Victor: One of the challenges I mostly face is finance. The passions keep me going but sometimes there are no resources to meet up. But still at that, I still execute project with the capacity I can.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Many young people have great ideas, but lack of funds is always a stumbling block. What’s your advice in this regard?
Victor:I started my organization with no money, in fact, the first project I did I had not paid my school fees then. Many young people are limiting themselves to what they can do because of money. Money shouldn't be criteria to make impact. I didn't have money to start but I started afraid. Other young people should emulate this. Our dreams shouldn't be tied to monetary value. We were made for more! We will achieve a lot when we think this way
PROJECT_INSPIRE: How have you been able to raise money to implement your ideas?
Victor: I have personal savings from where I support the work I do at the Foundation. I have friend and colleagues that believe in the vision and they support in their own little way too. I don't get all the money I need for a project but I utilize all that is available.
PROJECT_INSPIRE:Could you please share with us one or two experience(s) you have had in the course of your campaign that has/have impacted on you?
Victor:Growing up as a child I've always wanted to be a medical doctor because I wanted to reach out to people in rural communities with free medication. After my secondary school the passion was still there so I applied for medicine in a federal university of Nigeria but didn't get admission. I applied 2 more times and still didn't get admission. I almost gave up. I applied the 4th time and I got admission but I got a different course to study, I decided to accept the admission and move on with my life. I felt maybe the medicine Career wasn't for me but deep down I want to be a doctor so I can help under privilege sick people. Years after I initiated a medical outreach project to displaced communities in my organization. What we do is we reach out to communities that were affected by insurgency. We provide free medical counsel and give free medication. I am not a medical personnel but I mobilize as many medical personnel as I can get to go with us. On the 2nd edition of the project, we visited a village in Bokkos LGA of Plateau State. We were done with the outreach and we were preparing to travel back to Jos, an old woman walked up to me and said “Doctor Victor Bello please can you check my blood pressure”. I smiled and told her that I am not a doctor and then directed her to one of the doctors. She felt because I am the project lead, I am a medical doctor.
I wanted to be a Doctor because I wanted to reach out, I couldn't get to study medicine to be a doctor but I am achieving my dreams already by organizing medical outreaches. A lot of times we are faced with circumstances beyond our control and we are forced to do what we don't want but the truth is that nothing can stop you from bringing out the light in you.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What are your prospects in the next 5 or 10 years?
Victor: In the next 5 to 10 years I want to be travelling to many States in Nigeria reaching out to more people and initiating more projects to touch lives and mentoring the next generation to do same.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: What do you think is the major cause of unemployment among the youth today, and how can we get over this?
Victor: Many of our youths depend on the government for jobs but we need to begin to think more about job creation. They are a lot of soft skills that we can learn and earn a living.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: How can you be reached on social media?
Victor: On Facebook:
Victor Eneji Bello | Victor Bello Foundation
https://www.facebook.com/victor.bello.524596
On Instagram:
@vikbello | @victorbellofoundation_
Twitter: @VBFchangemakers
PROJECT_INSPIRE: The final word for the Nigerian youth.
Victor: We are the leaders of today! We have largest population base on statistics. When we all stand for what is right, when we all participate in building an ideal society, we get a better chance in building our nation and securing the future for the next generation.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: We are glad to have you speak with us today.
Victor: It is my pleasure. Keep up the good work.
PROJECT_INSPIRE: Thank you for sharing your story with us and we do pray that many will be inspired as they read.
Victor : It is my pleasure.
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Nice interview Victor. May your passion to serve God and humanity never diminish, you will receive the help of God Amen.
ReplyDeleteAlmighty we continue to be your strength God bless you
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work Victor, may the good Lord honour and keep directing you. Weldone🤗
ReplyDelete