Coronavirus Pandemic
OVER 1,600 residents of Offa in Offa Local Area of Kwara have benefitted from cash donations under a relief package sponsored by the Offa Descendants Union in North America (ODUNA) in Offa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the week-long exercise tagged: “ODUNA COVID-19 Relief Package”, which ended on Friday, was in phases and attracted artisans, the aged, widows and widowers as beneficiaries.
Other beneficiaries of the initiative were pensioners, transport unions members, petty traders, selected Christian and Muslim faithful, people with disabilities, as well as the victims of the April 2018 bank robbery attack in the community.
According to the Union’s President, Dr Adegboyega Abdulkodir, the exercise which gulped over N4 million was in collaboration with Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Iyeru-Okin Microfinance Bank and Ibolo Microfinance Bank.
Each of the beneficiaries received N2,500 through the initiative which spread across the wards and compounds in the community.
Some of the beneficiaries with valid bank accounts had their donations earlier transferred to their respective bank accounts while those without accounts were handed their donations by hand.
In his remark, Abdulkodir, said the gesture was part of the union’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) toward cushioning the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the residents, especially, the less privileged.
According to him, in spite of the devastating global effect of the pandemic, members of the union, who are mostly based abroad, in their characteristic manner, contributed handsomely toward the success of the programme.
He said the union was moved by the hardship and negative effect of the pandemic on business and commercial activities in the community following the government lockdown directive.
“We felt it is part of our responsibility to assist our people at this trying time of the COVID-19 pandemic where trading, business services and other commercial activities have been paralysed.
“Our major targets are the poor and less privileged whose purchasing power have been negatively affected by the lockdown.
“We are very optimistic that the token, to a greater extent, will impact positively on the lives of the beneficiaries as the lockdown persists,” he said.
Abdulkodir commended members of the union, ODU national executive, Offa Traditional Council and the management of the collaborating banks for their commitment and steadfastness in making the exercise a reality.
In her remark, Mrs Sariyu Oyewole, Coordinator and Head of the Programme Implementation Committee of the Initiative, expressed satisfaction that the initiative had achieved its targeted audience and objectives.
“So far so good, we give God the glory for the success of the initiative. You can see the expression of gratitude and appreciation on the faces of the beneficiaries; that to us in ODUNA is a big plus and we are very happy.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank the President, Dr Adegboyega Abdulkodir and more importantly members of the implementation committee for their commitment and dedication,” she said.
In their remarks, Rev. David Olaosebikan, the Secretary, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Offa Council chapter and Alhaji Mustapha Bolaji, President, Artisans Congress in Offa, described the gesture as unprecedented, timely and highly beneficial.
NAN
– May 15, 2020 @ 14:15 GMT /
Tags: artisans COVID-19: Group donates cash to aged others in Kwara widows
