All is set for President Goodluck Jonathan to launch President the Victims’ Support Fund, an initiative designed by the to raise funds that will be devoted to rehabilitation of victims and areas affected by terrorism across the country.

About $500 million or over N80 billion is expected to be realised from the launching scheduled to take place at a dinner to be presided over by President Jonathan at the Banquet Hall of Presidential Villa later today.

PM NEWS gathered that the launching this evening will be attended by state governments, members of the Federal Executive Council,  captains of industry, some former Nigeria Head of State who are already in Abuja and members of the diplomatic community.

Blue chip corporate organisation, international development agencies and wealthy individuals are expected to be the major donors of the VSF which has as Chairman Chief Theophilius Danjuma.

President Jonathan had yesterday expressed hope operators in the  private sector and friends of Nigeria in the international community will donate generously to the Fund to help provide succour for all those who have been adversely affected by terrorism and insurgency in the country.

The President who said this while speaking at separate audiences with the Secretary- General of the Commonwealth, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, and the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, Jonathan said that he hoped that over a 12-month period, about $500 million would have been raised through the fund to further alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians living in states affected by activities of terrorists.

President Jonathan added  that the fund, which would be managed by a non-governmental organisation, would also be deployed in support of the rebuilding of destroyed schools and the creation of a safer environment for education in affected states.

The President had set up a committee that will administer the fund, headed by Gen Theophilus Danjuma which is spearheading today’s launching about two weeks ago.

While inaugurating the committee, the President said  the decision to set up the  Fund was borne out of a need to provide a framework through which all persons and institutions that wish to help mitigate the pains men and women are going through for no fault of theirs.

“We will ensure that those, who have suffered unjustly in the hands of terrorists can, in our little way, be consoled”, he said.

Briefing journalists after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting yesterday, minister of information, Labaran Maku, said government will also provide some money to support the Save School Initiatives from funds realised from the VSF.