Chima Azubuike
Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, on Friday presented three thousand bags of 50 kg rice to flood victims in Kebbi State, the food donation which was handed to Kebbi state government by Sir offor’s representative, his Chief Of Staff, retired AIG Chris Okey Ezike, is estimated at 81 million naira.
He explained that the gesture was the modest contribution by the foundation to alleviate the suffering of the intended beneficiaries.
He said, “the gesture is aimed at helping Kebbi State to mitigate the formidable challenges posed by the recent flood disasters across the State.”
According to a press statement by the Special Adviser to Kebbi state governor on Media, Yahaya Sarki, for over 25 years governor Atiku Bagudu and the Sir Emeka Offor have shared tremendous friendship and fellowship as well as engaged in mutually beneficial activities to bringing succour to humanity.
On his part, Kebbi state governor Atiku Bagudu while receiving the food donation said, it cannot come at a better time than now.
Bagudu described the gesture by Sir Emeka Offor as wonderful and said that,it will go a long way in complementing ongoing efforts to massively assist the flood victims .
While calling on wellmeaning individuals nationwide to emulate the kind gesture of the foundation, governor Bagudu expressed delight that the rice donated to the state by the foundation was locally processed in Anambra State, “this indicates that the agricultural policy of President Muhammdu Buhari has come to fruition.”
Governor Bagudu, recalled that a similar assistance was provided by the foundation when it donated medical equipment and supplies to the state at the peak of Coronavirus pandemic.
According to Bagudu, priority attention will be given to the internally displaced persons at the IDPs camps.
Bagudu, who described the 2020 flood disasters as the worst since 2010 , said “it caused colossal devastation in no fewer than sixteen local governments in the State .”
The Governor also lamented the effect of the flood disaster which he said caused many deaths , loss of farmlands , farm produce,livestock, houses and several infrastructure across the state.
Bagudu stated that, the state government was putting all hands on deck, to mobilize the resilient farmers in the State to go back to the farms.
Bagudu added that, the farmers were seriously mobilising for the dry season farming , he said “this is to compensate for what was lost to the unfortunate flood.”
He stated that, the state government was making plausible plans to provide improved rice seeds, fertilizers , insecticides, pesticides and other needed inputs to the farmers .
While commending the people of Kebbi State for imbibing the virtue of self help especially youths, who have taken up agriculture as an occupation noting that that was a major reason Kebbi youths refused to participate in the
violent protest witnessed in other states of the federation.