Over 30 host communities to Dangote Cement Ibese Plant as well as those in Itori in Yewa North, Ewekoro local government areas of Ogun State respectively were thrown into excitement at the weekend when Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) commenced free distribution of rice to the people of the communities.
The distribution of the rice is part of ongoing National Food Intervention Programme embarked upon by the ADF.
The programme targeted the aged, physically challenged and vulnerable people living in the communities.
Already, over 3,000 persons in the listed categories have benefitted from the free rice distribution programme in the communities.
It was the same at the host communities to Dangote Granite and Mines in Ijebu-Igbo as the beneficiaries turned up in large numbers at the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo palace and that of Sopenlukale of Oke-Sopen where free bags of rice were distributed to the deserving populace.
Aboro of Ibese, Oba Rotimi Mulero and his counterpart in Itori, the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo were full of praises for the Chairman of the Foundation, Aliko Dangote for his magnanimity in ensuring food security in the host communities and thereby reducing hunger among their people.
While presenting bags of rice to some of the beneficiaries in Ibese, Oba Mulero explained that the initiative is focused on reaching out to the aged, people living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups facing hardship in the face of current biting economic climate.
He stated that beyond the rice distribution , there has been a longstanding collaboration between the host communities and the ADF on one hand and the Dangote Cement on another hand.
He said the collaboration is especially in the areas of empowerments and capacity building.
The ruler also acknowledged ADF’s consistent corporate social responsibility efforts, particularly towards host communities.
Said he : “We all were here last year, we are also here this year, for distribution of food items.
“Let me on behalf of the community which I am the prescribing authority over, appreciate the management team of Aliko Dangote Foundation for this gesture.
“We would continue to pray that the organization continue to flourish.
“Last year, I called this exercise” Operation Feed the Nation” which we have witnessed some years ago in the country.
“We are seeing Alhaji Aliko Dangote reintroducing the programme with this yearly rice distribution exercise.
“We are proud of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dangote Group and Aliko Dangote Foundation.
“With this gesture, God will continue to strengthen the managements of Dangote Foundation, Dangote Cement, especially Dangote Cement, Ibese plant.
“You can see that our people have turned out in their thousands ,waiting to get the item, when we started sharing, you saw the smiles in the faces.”
Earlier in his remarks, representative of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Victor Edero said the foundation’s food intervention was designed to complement the government’s food security efforts.
According to Edero, the distribution of food items is being extended to all the 774 local government areas across the country .
He explained that the economic downturn has made it increasingly difficult for many Nigerians to afford basic staples like rice, making such support crucial.
He added that the foundation gives priorities to the host communities, especially Ibese that’s hosting cement factory and other host communities.
Mr Edero reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to capture its target audiences like the vulnerable, downtrodden and aged.
He called for fair and equitable distribution to ensure all targeted beneficiaries get their share.
In their appreciations, some of the beneficiaries lauded the initiative, stating it was a clear example of how public-private partnerships can be harnessed to ease people’s burdens and promote inclusive development.
Earlier, the Olu itori thanked Alhaji Dangote for counting Itori community worthy of benefiting from the food intervention programme, given that the Cement Plant in the area is still under construction and his people will give all necessary cooperation to ensure the plant takes off smoothly.
He described the construction of the plant as a fulfilment of long time promise made to his people that he would ensure a notable company is established in his domain through which the people could be gainfully employed and the economy of the community turned around
It would be recalled that the Aliko Dangote Foundation under its National Food Intervention Programme had last week distributed Forty (40,000) thousand 10kg bags of rice across the twenty (20) local government areas of Ogun State.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
