Moved by the plight of the Internally
Displayed Persons (IDPs) and returnees in Yobe State, many of whom have been
hit by starvation, the Dangote Foundation has flagged off the distribution of food
and other relief items worth over N100 million to IDP camps in the state.
The Foundation said its support to the
IDPs and other returnees across the North eastern states has grown up to N1.3
billion in the light of recent ugly developments in the camps that necessitated
fresh interventions.
Chief Executive of the Foundation
Zouera Youssoufou appealed to all public spiritual individuals and organization
to rise up to be counted at this time of hardship for the IDPs, noting that no
humanitarian assistance is too small to render to the people in IDPs as most of
them are ravaged by hunger.
Youssoufou who flagged off the
distribution in company with the Deputy Governor, Yobe State, Engr. Abubakar
Aliyu disclosed that all the IDP camps in the 32 communities will benefit from
the donation.
Speaking at the event the Deputy
Governor expressed the state government’s heart-felt gratitude to the Chairman,
Dangote Foundation, Alhaji Aliko Dangote for his genuine concern towards the
plight of IDPs in the State.
He recounted previous donations made by
the richest man in Africa towards improving health care delivery and
eradication of polio in the State.
Said he: “I am highly delighted to
welcome Alhaji Aliko Dangote to Yobe State and also thank him for his laudable
decision to donate relief materials including rice, spaghetti, noodles, salt,
sugar, Dangote seasoning worth millions of naira to IDPs who have suffered
untold hardship due to insurgency in the state. I wish to categorically state
that Dangote Foundation has made previous donations towards great causes
including eradication of polio in the state.”
He noted that with the restoration of
peace and significant improvement in security across the North East especially
in Yobe State, Dangote’s intervention could not have come at a better time as
the gesture would help the returnees find their feet since most of the IDPs
across various camps have not cultivated farmlands or engaged in activities to
sustain their livelihood in the last 2 years.
Engr. Aliyu made a commitment
that the food items will be judiciously distributed to bring succor to the IDPs
and returnees and further asked for more assistances from the government,
business development partners, philanthropic organizations and other
stakeholders to help tackle the challenges of rehabilitation, reconstruction,
re-integration and peace building in the second most affected state by
insurgency in Nigeria.
In her remark, the Foundation CEO
conveyed the readiness of Alhaji Aliko Dangote to contribute to peace and security
in all parts of Nigeria describing the situation in the North East
philosophically as “injury to one is injury to all, because we are our
brother’s keeper.”
Youssoufou expressed her appreciation
for the warm reception and the opportunity to fulfill the commitment of
the Dangote Foundation which is alleviating poverty and ameliorating the
sufferings and pains of vulnerable people in the society.
She said “Dangote Foundation is
committed to alleviating poverty and the suffering of vulnerable people in the
society through intervention initiatives that impacts lives positively and
engenders socio economic development. “
”The Foundation boss further said the
Foundation is primarily committed to reducing the number of lives lost to
malnutrition especially in children and also providing intervention in the
focus areas of education, health and economic empowerment.”
The host Local Government Chairman of
Gubja, Alhaji Kijari Batarama noted that “Dangote Foundation’s donation today
is a clear demonstration of support and concern for the plight of IDPs and it
bears witness to his genuine sympathy of Alhaji Aliko Dangote to the victims of
insurgency in the state.
“I am glad to inform you that return of
peace in some of these areas has allowed for commencement of farming activities
which resulted in bumper harvest during the outgrowing cropping season,
complementing efforts in provision of food and attainment of food
security.”
He stated further that the return of
IDPs has seen the total number of school enrolment rise to 6,819 pupils across
10 different communities and called for more support to help transform lives of
returnees and restore affected villages to prosperity.
It would be recalled that since
Dangote Foundation commenced its intervention programme in the North East since
July 2016 and has since donated 106 trailer load of food items worth 1.3
billion naira in Borno State.
The Dangote Foundation will also be
committing additional 2 billion naira in supporting government reconstruction
efforts in the North East.
Tags
Business