The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), expended a princely sum of $47 million in humanitarian aid last year to support 98 different projects across Nigeria.
The chief operating officer of Abubakr As-sidiq Philanthropic Home, Farid Salman, disclosed this on Monday during the distribution of empowerment materials and food items to orphanage homes in Ilorin, Kwara State, by KSrelief in collaboration with As-sidiq Philanthropic Home.
He said KSrelief’s gesture was to assist displaced persons, enhancement of healthcare and empowerment of communities.
He added, “KSrelief has been a cornerstone of humanitarian efforts in Nigeria, funding projects that address critical needs in food, security, health education and early recovery.”
Salman disclosed that the partnership is providing 10 tons of food items, 1000 textbooks and 5,000 exercise books to the needy in Kwara State.
“Others are payment of school fees for children currently enrolled in schools; vocational skills for 150 children; provision of 50 laptops to support digital education; financial support for orphanage homes; counselling services for children who need emotional and psychological support,” he said.
After the commissioning of the orphan support project, KSrelief, in collaboration with Abibakr As-sidiq Philanthropic Home, handed over food items to some registered orphanage homes in the state.
Items distributed include 175 bags of 50kg of rice, 150 bags of 50kg of beans, 125 bags (50kg) of cassava flour, 75 bags (30 litres) of vegetable oil, 200 packs of evaporated milk; 125 bags (30kg) of semolina and 545 (2kg each) of tomato paste.
Others are 150 packs of different sizes of noodles, 125 packs of pasta, 115 (30kg each) bags of bread flour, 75 bags (50kg) of sugar, and 75 bags (50kg) of salt.
The executive director of Abubakir As- sidiq Philanthropic Home, Sheikh AbdulRazaq Solagberu, emphasised the need for the rich to cater for the needs of orphans in society.
He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the empowerment materials given to them to enable them to earn a living.
The Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Dr Afees Abolore, thanked the event organisers for prioritising the welfare of orphans.
The event was witnessed by the chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammed Bashir Soliu, Imam Imale of Ilorin, Sheikh Abdullahi AbdulHameed and the president of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), Alh AbdulMumini AbdulMalik, amongst others.
