A nongovernmental organisation, Gbenga Power Foundation, Wednesday, started the distribution of rice and salt to about 7,000 households across three local government areas of Kwara State.
Checks show that beneficiaries are residents of Oyun, Offa, and Ifelodun in the Kwara South senatorial district, with the palliatives aimed at cushioning the effects of the lockdown imposed on the state as orchestrated by the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the state.
The founder of the Foundation, Gbenga Oyekunle Power, who led the team urged the people of the communities to abide by the stay-at-home order, maintenance of personal and public hygiene as well as maintenance of social distancing order by the government so as to curb the spread of the infectious virus, stressing that the best way to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 disease is adhering to directives by medical experts.
“Our foundation has been a frontrunner in humanitarian activities as well as making life meaningful for the less privileged irrespective of their political, religious and social affiliations in the society. Our mission is clear and with the support of God, we are gradually achieving our goals of bridging the wide gaps between the poor and the rich.
“Majorly, this food intervention programme will go a long way in providing reliefs to our brothers and sisters, young and old as well as the downtrodden who have been subjected to hardship by the outbreak of COVID-19 which eventually led to lockdown and movements restriction order imposed by the government.”
Power also commended the Kwara State Government, community development associations and other philanthropists for their efforts in the distribution of palliatives to the people, saying that the Gbenga Power Foundation will continue to help the needy.
Communities visited by the team include Offa, Ilemona, Igbaja, Yaaru and Agunjin with strict compliance to social distancing, use of face masks and hand sanitizer during the distribution exercise.
It would be recalled that the foundation recently sunk borehole projects for some communities especially Ajegunle-Idera, a community that has been suffering from lack of water for over 40 years.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
