Rivers: First Lady Fubara distributes 2,400 bags of rice to vulnerable residents
From Tony John, Port Harcourt
The First Lady of Rivers State, Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, has presented 2,400 bags of rice and cash to the poor, vulnerable, and physically challenged residents in the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Speaking at the event, which took place at Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Lady Fubara explained that the gesture was part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Security Programme (FSP) steered by the wife of the President of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
She said that through the RHI, Senator Tinubu is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to bring succour to Nigerians who are experiencing difficult economic conditions, aiming to rekindle hope in them.
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Lady Fubara stated: “The reason we are gathered here is because our mother, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, presented to every state of the federation a gift of 25kg bags of rice. For Rivers State, we received a total of 2,400 bags of 25kg rice. So, we say a big thank you to our mother.”
“And, as part of our own little way, the Rivers State Government has also attached cash to the bags of rice that will be distributed to the 23 LGAs, including the National Council for Women Society (NCWS) and non-indigenes.”
Lady Fubara further stated: “Every LGA is going home with 90 bags of rice each. I believe that every LGA is represented here. And, please, I want to plead with you, when you take it to the LGAs, ensure that it gets to the right people that it is supposed to get to: the vulnerable, the physically challenged, less-privileged people. You know those that really need these bags of rice.”
Lady Fubara warned that the gift of bags of rice and the accompanying cash should not be used for what she described as “something to use to make friendship or make family relatives happy.” She charged those who represented their various LGAs to receive their donations with a heart of gratitude and ensure they resist the temptation of truncating the purpose that has been clearly stated.
In her remarks, the Rivers State President of NCWS, Mrs. Jetiba Soberekon, who received on behalf of her association, said they were happy that women were carried along with the scheme. She assured that what they have received would be strictly distributed to the less-privileged and vulnerable among them to give them a lease of life.
In her reaction, Juliet Berewari, who represented Ahoada East LGA to receive 90 bags of rice and cash, expressed appreciation to Senator Tinubu and Lady Fubara for the gesture that, according to her, will contribute to putting food on the table of the venerable people in the rural areas.
Also speaking, Mrs Princess Sokariba Youdowei, who received on behalf of Ahoada West LGA, said they were extremely excited for the thoughtfulness of their mothers who have remembered to extend such a gesture to those who are barely struggling to survive, stressing that the gifts will offer better hope to them.
For Bonny LGA, Mrs Sarah Georgewill, who received the 90 bags of rice and cash, noted that people were really finding it difficult to feed. She added that the gesture will wipe tears off their eyes and rekindle hope that they are remembered and cared for by kind-hearted mothers like Senator Tinubu and Lady Fubara.
The bags of rice and cash gifts were also distributed to the Motherless Babies’ Home, Borokiri; Cheshire Home, Port Harcourt Township; and Home for the Elderly, Harbour Road; all in Port Harcourt.
