The Aliko Dangote Foundation has flagged off the distribution of 10,000 bags of rice, weighing 10 kilogrames, to vulnerable households, people with disabilities and the less privileged in Bayelsa State.
The deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, who represented the governor, Senator Douye Diri, at the event, commended Aliko Dangote for his philanthropic gesture and flourishing partnership with the state government in agriculture by accepting to be the off-taker of the rice being cultivated in the state.
He said, “The Bayelsa State government has a very lucrative and viable relationship with the Dangote Group; we want to thank Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the relationship he established with us.
“We want to thank Dangote for being an offtaker for our rice production. We are also looking forward to the issue of building a mill by the farm clusters and settlements.
“We commend Dangote for conquering greed through his philanthropic virtues in the past 30 years. I want to urge us to emulate his acts of giving.”
Speaking during a distribution exercise, the head of Operations, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Edero Ejiro, said the initiative is part of the foundation’s annual National Food Intervention Project, which aims to support over one million disadvantaged Nigerians nationwide.
He stated that the foundation would distribute 10,000 bags of 10kg rice to the state’s vulnerable population.
He pointed out that the Foundation’s distribution is across the country’s 774 local government areas and is intended to cushion the effects of the hardships currently being experienced there.
According to him, we are here to present 10,000 bags of 10kg rice to the people of Bayelsa. The Aliko Dangote Foundation has existed for over 30 years and has helped in empowerment, nutrition, and education.
“This distribution of rice supports and complements the food security initiative put in place by the various state governments, and the rice distribution is across the 774 local government areas in the country. Our target beneficiaries are market women, the vulnerable, physically challenged people, widows and artisans.”
Also speaking the chairman Bayelsa State chapter of Joint National Association of People with Disability, (JNAPWD), Ekpomokumor Mayor, expressed appreciation to the Aliko Dangote Foundation for reaching out to them by putting food on their table in these trying times and commended the Bayelsa State government for selecting them to be part of the beneficiaries.
With the flag off, the distribution exercise now shifts to the eight local governments in the state, where the various councillors will ensure that the rice reaches the intended targets in their wards.
