Aliko Dangote Foundation’s free rice excites host communities in Ogun state

Over 30 host communities to Dangote Cement Ibese Plant as well as those in Itori in Yewa North,  Ewekoro local government aeras of Ogun State respectively were thrown into excitement as the Aliko Dangote Foundation, (ADF) extended its National Food Intervention programme to the people distributing over 3000 bags of rice to the less privileged in the communities.

It was the same at the host communities to Dangote Granite and Mines in Ijebu-Igbo as the beneficiaries turned up in large numbers at the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo palace and that of Sopenlukale of Oke-Sopen where the bags of rice were distributed to the deserving populace.

Aboro of Ibese, Oba Rotimi Mulero and his counterpart in Itori, the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo were full of praises to the Chairman of the Foundation, Aliko Dangote for his magnanimity in ensuring food security in the host communities and thereby reducing hunger among their people.

While presenting bags of rice to some of the beneficiaries in Ibese, Oba Mulero explained to the people that the initiative is focused on reaching out to the aged, people living with disabilities and other vulnerable groups facing hardship in the face of current biting economic climate.

He stated that beyond the rice distribution there has existed a longstanding collaboration between the host communities and the ADF on one hand and the Dangote Cement on another hand, especially in the areas of empowerments and capacity building. He also acknowledged ADF’s consistent corporate social responsibility efforts, particularly towards host communities.

He said, “We all were here last year, we are also here this year, for distribution of food items. Let me on behalf of the community which I am the prescribing authority over, appreciate the management team of Aliko Dangote Foundation for this gesture. We would continue to pray that the organization continue to flourish. Last year, I called this exercise” Operation Feed the Nation” which we have witnessed some years ago in the country. We are seeing Alhaji Aliko Dangote reintroducing the programme with this yearly rice distribution exercise. We are proud of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Dangote Group and Aliko Dangote Foundation.

“With this gesture, God will continue to strengthen the managements of Dangote Foundation, Dangote Cements especially Dangote Cement, Ibese plant. You can see that our people have turned out in their thousands ,waiting to get the item, when we started sharing, you saw the smiles in the faces”.

Earlier in his remarks, representative of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, Victor Edero said the Foundation’s food inflation intervention was designed to complement the government’s food security efforts toward distribution of food items to all the 774 local government areas across the country .

He explained that the economic downturn has made it increasingly difficult for many Nigerians to afford basic staples like rice, making such support crucial, adding that the foundation gives priorities to the host communities, especially Ibese that’s hosting cement factory and other host communities.

Ejiro reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to capture its target audiences like the vulnerable, downtrodden and aged, while urging for fair and equitable distribution to ensure all targeted beneficiaries get their share.

In their appreciations, some of the beneficiaries lauded the initiative, stating it was a clear example of how public-private partnerships can be harnessed to ease people’s burdens and promote inclusive development.

Earlier, the Olu itori thanked Alhaji Dangote for cunting Itori worthy of benefiting from the food intervention programme, given that the Cement Plant in the area is still under construction and his people will give all necessary cooperation to ensure the plant takes off smoothly.

He described the construction of the plant as a fulfilment of long time promise made to his people that he would ensure a notable company is established in his domain through which the people could be gainfully employed and the economy of the community turned around.