In a society where many vulnerable families struggle to pay medical bills, keep children in school and raise capital for small businesses, one Gombe philanthropist is using his personal resources to provide support where it is needed most.
Engr. Aliyu Mohammed, popularly known as Aliyu Kombat, is a trained Electrical Engineer and a player in Nigeria’s real estate sector. He is also the founder of the Velocity Humanitarian Foundation (VHF), a non-governmental organisation that provides humanitarian assistance to students, patients, women, entrepreneurs, and other vulnerable people across Gombe State.
Although the foundation has supported thousands of people through different interventions, Kombat said he prefers to operate quietly rather than seek public recognition.
Supporting students
Education has remained one of the foundation’s major areas of intervention.
In June 2026, VHF awarded N10 million to 100 Gombe indigenes studying in various tertiary institutions outside the state.
Earlier, in 2025, the foundation reportedly paid more than N400 million in tuition fees for 2,200 students of Gombe State University, while another N100 million was provided for 412 students of the Federal University of Kashere.
Kombat said the experience prompted him to consider a more structured scholarship programme rather than relying mainly on one-off interventions.
Under the proposed programme, the foundation plans to sponsor 1,100 students from the 11 local government areas of Gombe State, with 100 beneficiaries selected from each local government.
The beneficiaries would receive support from the beginning of their university education until graduation, while the foundation would also monitor their academic performance and provide post-graduation support.
From a possible amputation to walking again
VHF’s interventions have also extended to healthcare.
One of the beneficiaries is nine-year-old Fatima Adamu, who suffered a leg fracture following an accident and remained bedridden for about two years.
According to her family, medical doctors had recommended amputation after her condition deteriorated.
Her parents subsequently approached the foundation for assistance.
Rather than proceeding with the proposed amputation, VHF reportedly took Fatima to another hospital, where she underwent surgery.
The treatment enabled her to regain the use of her legs.
“He also enrolled me in a big private school here in Gombe,” Fatima said while expressing appreciation for the support.
Her father, Malam Adamu Ahmad, said the foundation had transformed his daughter’s life after the family struggled to meet the cost of her treatment and education.
“In the whole of Gombe State, I believe that no one has benefited from the VHF support more than me. We suffered a lot; we sold our properties but the foundation took over the responsibility of her medical treatment and even her education,” he said.
Helping a spinal cord injury patient walk again
Another beneficiary, Abdulhamid Ibrahim, suffered a spinal cord injury that left him unable to walk.
After years of pain and immobility, VHF sponsored his spinal cord surgery.
Ibrahim said the intervention restored his hope and enabled him to walk again.
“I had already given up on walking with my feet again. I thought my life had ended, but VHF came to my rescue and sponsored my surgery. Today I am back on my feet,” he said.
Empowering small businesses
The foundation’s interventions have also included economic empowerment.
Damaris Danladi Maikano, one of the beneficiaries, said she used financial support from VHF to establish a fish farming business.
According to her, the assistance enabled her to settle outstanding debts while providing capital to expand her business.
“Honestly, the grant support from the VHF has improved my fish farming business. I was able to settle my debt and the fish business is also growing,” she said.
Why Aliyu Kombat established VHF
Explaining his motivation, Kombat said he established the foundation to address challenges affecting people in his community, particularly in healthcare, education and economic empowerment.
“A hospital bill can mean selling the little family assets. For a student, an unpaid school fee can threaten years of education, while for a small trader a lack of capital can force a promising business to shut down,” he said.
According to him, the difficulties faced by members of his community convinced him that there was a need to give back.
He said the plight of university students who risked dropping out because of unpaid tuition fees particularly influenced his decision to intervene.
“When I was informed about the issue, I sat down and started thinking: we are complaining of insecurity in the country, and here are 2,200 youths from GSU and another 412 from FUK having it tough. I felt that I can’t just look away, so I had to intervene,” he said.
How beneficiaries are identified
Kombat said VHF has a process for determining genuine cases before providing assistance.
For medical cases, he said the foundation works with patient relations officers who investigate requests received through social media and other channels.
“They will visit the hospital, make enquiries on the claims. If it is found to be genuine, they will settle the bills or pay for the surgeries or treatments as the case may be,” he explained.
He said the foundation gives particular attention to costly illnesses, including cancer and orthopaedic conditions, which can place significant financial pressure on low-income families.
For education, the foundation also considers students who are unable to pay their fees close to examination periods.
Water, food and community support
Beyond healthcare, education and business empowerment, VHF has also supported communities through the provision of boreholes in areas experiencing water shortages.
The foundation has also distributed food items to vulnerable people, particularly during Ramadan and other festive periods.
Kombat said the satisfaction he receives comes from seeing beneficiaries regain hope and improve their lives.
Appeal to government and other philanthropists
Despite the foundation’s interventions, Kombat acknowledged that the number of people seeking assistance remains high.
He called on government at all levels to intensify efforts to address economic hardship and support vulnerable Nigerians at the grassroots.
“A lot of people are struggling economically, and the pressure is extremely high on the number of needy people that need help, even though the government is trying. But I still want to appeal that they should put in more effort to help the people,” he said.
He also encouraged individuals to contribute to society regardless of the size of their resources.
“One doesn’t have to be rich to help someone in need,” he said, stressing that people could begin with whatever they could afford.
Looking beyond Gombe
Although VHF currently focuses largely on Gombe State, Kombat said the foundation has ambitions to expand its humanitarian activities beyond the state and the North-East.
“We have so many programmes in the pipeline, and in the next five years I want to see the VHF going to other states, not just in the North-East, but even beyond the Northern region,” he said.
For Kombat, philanthropy is not simply about giving money to people.
“It is about responding to people’s needs, whether in healthcare, education, livelihood or other areas of humanitarian support,” he said.
While many beneficiaries know his name because of the assistance they have received, Aliyu Kombat says he would rather let the impact of the interventions speak for itself.
In Gombe, the stories of students able to remain in school, patients receiving medical treatment, families regaining hope and entrepreneurs starting or expanding businesses provide a picture of a philanthropist whose work is largely taking place away from the spotlight.
