Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has commended the Aliko Dangote foundation for touching lives of millions across Sub-Saharan Africa by uplifting communities and supporting human welfare.
The Governor gave the commendation today at the flag off of the Aliko Dangote Foundation National Food Intervention Programme for 25 Local Government Areas in the state.
Governor Oborevwori who was represented by the Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG) Dr. Kingsley Emu, stated that the challenges of today’s economy require all hands to be on deck adding that the donation complements the state government’s existing interventions to cushion the effects of hardship on the vulnerable persons in the state.
He noted that the gesture was not only symbolic but deeply meaningful saying that it represents the spirit of care, compassion, and shared humanity.
Governor Oborevwori said his administration currently supports 10,000 widows, each receiving ₦15,000 monthly, amounting to ₦150 million every month and ₦1.8 billion annually.
While equally stating that beyond financial support, the widows were also enrolled in the Contributory Health Scheme to ensure access to healthcare, which is an additional ₦70 million annual investment by the state on the widows.
The Governor also noted that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs recently empowered 5,200 women through various livelihood programmes, while the Ministry of Women Affairs continued to champion initiatives for children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
He said these efforts by his administration demonstrated that the State had built a solid foundation of care and empowerment.
In her remarks the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Pat Ajudua represented by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Kevwe Agas expressed delight at the donations adding that many families have continued to struggle ever since the COVID 19 pandemic with the vulnerable feeling the harshest impact.
Also speaking, the Head of Operations of the Dangote Foundation, Mr. Ejiro Victor stated that the Dangote Foundation was intervening through health, education empowerment and nutrition adding that the programme was intended to cut across the 774 LGAs of the country.
He said the target beneficiaries were the vulnerable including artisans, market women and the physically challenged.
While commending the state’s government intervention in food security, he stated that this was a support to the commitments of the state’s food security and welfare initiatives
In his remarks the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments (ALGON), Hon. Isaiah Esiovwa assured the Dangote Foundation that the donations will get to the right beneficiaries.
The highlight of the event was the distribution of 10,000 bags of rice to the various beneficiaries, where the physically challenged got 1,500 bags, the ex-lepers got 500 while orphanages and charity homes across the three senatorial districts got 1,500 bags.
Others include each local government area across the state getting 200 bags each while the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Muslim communities got 1,000 and 500 bags respectively.
