In bid to alleviate poverty and address food insecurity, especially in the rural communities, a Non-governmental Organisation, the Honourable Abiola Makinde and Dr. Rhoda Makinde Initiative (HAMDROMI), in conjunction with the O’datiwa Political Movement, has extended its philanthropic reach to women in Akure North local government area of Ondo.
The organisation distributed food items such as rice, beans, bread, garri, noodles, and groundnut oil, among others to over 1000 women in Igoba, Itaogbolu, Iju, and Ayede-Ogbese, among other communities in Akure North.
Speaking during the distribution of the food items, a representative of HAMDROMI, Mrs. Ruth Lawal, said the increased level of poverty amidst the current economic challenges calls for more care for the less privileged and said the gestures were designed to provide relief to families grappling with economic hardships.
Lawal said that the programme was borne out of desire to cushion the effect of the prevailing economic hardship on women, not only in Ondo East and West Federal constituency, but also in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Lawal, who said that a similar exercise had been carried out at Oba Ile, also admonished the women to continue supporting the incumbent administration at all levels for more dividends of democracy.
She said hunger has taken toll on the poor, and urged well-meaning Nigerians to do more to help indigent Nigerians, saying the
gesture was in continuation of her efforts to succour the needy and downtrodden.
While speaking, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Leader for Ondo Central Senatorial District, Mr Paul Olakunle Adeniyi, commended the initiative of HAMDROMI noting that the present administration is poised to find a lasting solution to the present hardship in the country.
He also urged other organizations, philanthropists, and individuals to always remember the needy and said the palliative distribution was borne out of love for women in the sponsor’s constituency and Akure, the state capital, adding that
Also, Mrs. Modupe Akande, the APC Chairperson for Igoba/Isinigbo Ward 5, commended Hon. Makinde and his wife for extending the kind gesture beyond Ondo East and Ondo West.
She encouraged the women to continue supporting the current administration and to be more active politically, saying, “Women have a very crucial role to play in the political development of the state and even the country at large.”
Mrs. Temitope Olorunlogo, APC Women Leader in Ward 7, Itaogbolu, and Local Government Supervisor for Special Duties described the event as a welcome development that should be emulated by other well-meaning individuals.
She said: “This is a sign of the love and concern that the sponsors of this programme have for women. It shows that they recognise the place of women as a major force in democracy.”
A party chieftain in Iju, Mrs. Arinola Enikanoselu, described the programme as a sign of the passion for better life love which the organisers have for the masses.
She commended HANDROMI for extending such a kind gesture to women in the community and admonished women to continue to contribute their quota to the political development of the state.
Many of the beneficiaries who spoke at the event appreciated Makinde and his wife for the noble gesture extended towards them and prayed for more of God’s blessings on them.