Federal Government Should Establish Food Bank for Poor Nigerians – Fasola
Ifeoluwapo Fasola, Convener of Least People Outreach USA, a Non-Govermental Organisation, has called on Nigerian government to operate the food bank system to beat the hunger ravaging the nation.
Fasola explained that the authorities could replicate the American food bank system where NGOs recieve food from the department of agriculture to feed poor citizens.
“Our leaders should put the interest of the masses at heart. We see how funds are being mismanaged and it’s so saddened.
In developed countries of the world, the department of agriculture runs food bank system to feed the poor citizens but this is yet to be replicated in Nigeria. With the current economic hardship in the country, it’s high time Nigeria copied this programme to make the citizens comfortable.”
Speaking at an outreach organised by the NGO in collaboration with RCCG Jesus Protégé, Former Cowbell Building off Oke Bola, Ogunpa where food packs were distributed to no fewer than five hundred beneficiaries at Ogunpa market community, Fasola noted that little efforts by philanthropists and Non governmental organisation would only offer a small term succour, saying regular interventions by government would keep poor citizens alive and hopeful
The beneficiaries who trooped out in large number with excitement, presented themselves to the medical team for health screening such as Body Mass Index (BMI) measurement, Eye test, Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar check, Stress Management, Preventive Medicine, as well as distribution of eye glasses to those diagnosed with vision problems after which they were all handed a raw food pack of grains and noodles.
The people who lauded the gesture, expressed joy at the free-for-all programme, saying such humanitarian activity, especially, when not political motivated was unprecedented in the community
Two of the beneficiaries, Emmanuel Ojo and Funmi Adesina, said the programme had revealed their health status and the prescribed measures to managing it while expressing happiness that their family members would feed well from the food pack they recieved.
I really benefitted from this programme, if not for this outreach, I wouldn’t have discovered I have an elevated Blood Pressure. I thank God I have done a noble thing.” Ojo added
“Nowadays little health issues claim lives, we thank God that this NGO is helping us to live well. This is a community that you notice that they need help not only in the area of medical attention but also in stomach infrastructure, people are very happy, you know we all know what the country has turned to, we will reciprocate in serving God the more.” Mrs Victoria Okey said
Fasola, while speaking on the motive behind the gesture, explained that Least People Outreach USA had imparted many families in Nigeria through monthly food support outreach since 2016, adding that the vision was to establish a food bank to provide free foods to communities.
It’s a mandate from God that we should feed the less privileged in the community and I’m happy that we have been able to feed the communities in Ìbàdàn, we also supports orphanage and motherless babes homes, we empowered Widows to the glory of God.”
“I am not interested in any properties or accumulation of wealth, It’s always the best day for me doing this , as long as these people are being taken care off. Even my children were born into doing this in the United States, we cook and take it to the homeless, we have food pantry there and God asked us to replicate it in Ìbàdàn.” Fasola said
Fasola, an Ondo town indigene, admonished public organisations and spirited individuals to key into the vision and support the mandate as volunteers, donors and sponsors in the establishment of a food bank so as to feed more communities, Orphanages and Widows.
Country Coordinator, Pastor Moses Oladimeji, who said the NGO doesn’t discriminate in it’s activities, disclosed that several communities including Orphanage homes had been reached this year.
“It’s a community based project and we targets families, like this program now, our target is minimum of 500 families we are hoping it would outshoot. If you look at families, today, according to our own survey, I don’t think there’s family less than four, and that’s the target and not individual. Even if one person is represented from a family, he/she will go home with what will cater for the entire family, so we package food that will last them for more than a week.” Pastor Oladimeji added
Pastor Oladimeji enjoined Nigerians to cultivate the habit of feeding their next-door neighbours and ensure that no one suffered hunger in their neighbourhood.
