In a growing show of cross-border solidarity, two international businessmen, Sudeep Ramnani and Jai Mahtani, have expanded their humanitarian outreach in Nigeria by targeting one of the country’s most vulnerable populations: persons with disabilities.
On Friday, May 30, 2025, their latest effort took them to the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) in Opebi, Ikeja, Lagos, where a welfare team led by their representative, Beulah Akingbelu-Banjo, distributed food items and shared messages of hope and encouragement.
The initiative, carried out in partnership with Nigerian firm Pukka Logistics and Support Services Ltd, is part of an ongoing programme that began in March 2024. It aims to alleviate hunger and food poverty across the country’s 774 local government areas—one LGA at a time.
“This outreach reflects our commitment not only to doing business in Nigeria but also to contributing meaningfully to the lives of its people, especially the underserved,” said Akingbelu-Banjo during the event.
Since its inception, the outreach has reached thousands of Nigerians across several states, supporting both individuals and communities with essential supplies amidst rising inflation and food insecurity.
Receiving the items on behalf of the CCD, Florence Chima Austin expressed deep appreciation for the gesture. “This kind of support gives hope and shows that people with disabilities are not forgotten,” she said, calling for more stakeholders to join similar humanitarian efforts.
According to data from the National Bureau of Statistics, nearly 63% of Nigerians are multidimensionally poor, with persons with disabilities facing even greater barriers to access and inclusion. Initiatives like this are increasingly being seen as critical private-sector complements to government welfare efforts.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with economic instability, public-private collaborations such as this are filling crucial gaps in social protection, particularly for marginalised groups often left behind.
