The Aliko Dangote Foundation has donated 35,000 bags of rice to the poor and vulnerable people of Katsina State.
This is coming two weeks after it commenced the distribution of one million bags of rice worth N16billion across the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
A representative of the foundation, Mustapha Umar, disclosed this during the Katsina flag-off on Tuesday at the Muhammad Dikko Stadium.
Umar explained that the beneficiaries were selected from the 361 wards of the state’s 34 local government areas.
He said that the foundation supported the beneficiaries as part of its humanitarian gesture to cushion the economic hardship vulnerable persons are facing.
According to him, the gesture in Ramadan was intended to complement government efforts to improve the people’s well-being.
Umar noted, “This year’s gesture is targeting over one million vulnerable Nigerians to reduce their hardship due to the country’s economic situation.
“The foundation was in various parts of the country to offer similar support to assist people, especially Muslims, in observing the fasting of Ramadan with relative ease.”
He said 94 persons would benefit from the gesture in each of the political wards in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the state government, the Hisbah Board commander, Dr Aminu Usman, said the support would go a long way in reducing the challenges of the poor.
He commended the Aliko Dangote Foundation for the initiative, saying it will complement the state government’s effort, which, among other things, provides free Ramadan feeding.
He called on other wealthy individuals to imbibe the culture of assisting the less privileged, especially in the holy month of Ramadan.
Some beneficiaries, including physically challenged people, thanked the ADF for the food support and other humanitarian assistance.
While the 10kg bags of rice were distributed, some of the beneficiaries had to be wheeled to the venue to collect their share.
The exercise was supervised by Katsina government officials, including members of the Hisba Board, the State Community Development Programme and other stakeholders.
