From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
A Non-Governmental Organization ,(NGO), Selfless For Africa in conjunction with Igwebuike Social Club of Onitsha in Anambra State has splashed Christmas gifts and items, mainly foodstuffs worth about N15m to 510 indigent persons in Onitsha North Local Government Area.
Dr. Dueze Emmanuel, representative of Selfless For Africa, the NGO that bankrolled the empowerment programme said the items each of the beneficiaries went home with consisted of 10kg bag of rice, 12 tins of tomato paste, a gallon of vegetable oil, a roll of curry, a packet of salt,a roll of thyme, and one fowl.
He said the programme started in August 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic and they have sustained it since then.
The representative said the NGO was committed to cater for the well being of the members of the society, to alleviate and make their lives better.
He said they observed that there are poverty and suffering in the land, hence their decision to help enhance the quality of lives of the people this season.
The chairman of Igwebuike Social Club, Mr. Okey Mbanefo, commended Selfless For Africa for their gesture in this hard time in the country .
He expressed optimism that this would continue so that indigent people can always wear smiles in their faces during Christmas festivities
The chairman called on the Government, organisations, privileged and public spirited individuals to emulate Selfless For Africa in providing for the less privileged in their respective communities to make the society more tolerable for everybody.
Nene Tony Anazonwu, the Coordinator of the programme, said since Covid-19 the rate of economic devastation has been immense and traumatic ,hence the continuation of the programme which has now become Christmas Palliatives for indigent persons in Onitsha North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He said since Covid-19 what they have been doing was to remove the list of dead beneficiaries and add new ones and the number has been increasing every year.
For instance, he said, the first time in 2020, the numbers were 157 persons 2021, it increased to 200, 2022, 330, and this year the number went out to 510 beneficiaries.
He equally called for Government, faith based organizations, and others as well as wealthy individuals to replicate this in their different communities in Anambra State and beyond.
“Too many people are suffering in our country. You wouldn’t know until you get close to people . People should try to reach out to others they are better than. I believe one is happier whenever one makes the other person happy” said Anazonwu.
Speaking for the beneficiaries, Egbunike Agu, lauded the NGO and the Social Club, saying that it was an unexpected relief for people in this festive period.
He prayed that God would reward those that came up with the idea , which showed human and brotherly feelings.
Egbunike challenged politicians to follow the example,saying , ” if the politicians are doing like this, the people and the society would have been better”.