Harvesters Foundation Donates Food, Others To Kogi Flood Victims

As the devastating effects of the recent floods linger nationwide, Harvesters African Empowerment Foundation (HAEF) has deployed food and clothing supplies to over 1,250 people in Idozy village in Koton Karfe local government area of Kogi State.

The foundation is a humanitarian initiative of Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters International Christian Centre.

Commenting on the project’s impact, the lead project manager of HAEF Dinyambe Nyatua, said, “The members of these communities are predominantly farmers who have now lost their means of livelihood. Some of these villages are not easily accessible, so they receive little to no relief support. To make people whose lives have drastically changed overnight smile is a gift we never want to stop giving through this foundation’’

The flood affected 10 of 21 local governments which were submerged in water.

The Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said the flood had a grave impact on 471,842 people with a total of 16 deaths recorded in the 514 communities affected.

One of the victims and rice farmer, simply identified simply as Musulumi, said his farm was swept away by the flood.

He said, “I have lived here for 40 years and I have never seen a flood like this. The water has washed away our farmlands and there is no food to harvest. After investing in seeds, labour, fertilizer and pesticides, I was hoping to get 200 bags of rice during the harvest season but I was only able to harvest 3 bags of rice. It has been very tough and it was starting to look like we had been forgotten. I am grateful to HAEF for helping us in our time of need.”

The project came in the wake of a recent outreach in the floating village of Makoko, Lagos where HAEF provided 150 life jackets and five paddle boats to assist students of Solution School Makoko who struggle to attend classes due to boat accidents and poor water transportation options.

As part of its continued efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger in Africa, HAEF plans to offer scholarships worth N15 million to over 100 African undergraduates in a few months. The foundation aims to continue achieving SDG goals 1, 2 and 4, but there remains a massive funding gap that it hopes to close through donations from well-meaning supporters worldwide.