No fewer than 200 households in Ikot Mbonde Itam in Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom benefited from foodstuffs worth millions of naira from a Non-Governmental Organisation in the Netherlands.
Presenting the foodstuffs- garri, rice and beans- on behalf of the group on Friday to beneficiaries, Mr. Mfon Effiong, said the donations were sent by Akwa Ibom and Cross River indigenes resident in the Netherlands in Europe as a palliative to the community.
Effiong said that the donation was borne out of sincere love and feelings the group has for the people during this coronavirus pandemic lockdown.
“The criteria for picking beneficiaries are those that have no source of livelihoods in this difficult period, the vulnerable and the elderly, you can ask them. Even those that have a source of livelihoods, for now, their businesses are on lockdown because of coronavirus.
“The donation came from indigenes of Akwa Ibom and Cross River resident in the Netherlands in Europe. We are very happy and grateful for their benevolence.
“The items will reach the four families, at least each of the family is having not less than 100 households. Since we know the quantity sent to us, we have to randomly select people so that it will go round,” Effiong said.
The Village Head of Ikot Mbonde Itam, Eteidung Godfrey Akpan, thanked the group for their kind gesture especially at this time of lockdown.
He urged other well-meaning Nigerians in the society to emulate the group and be of help to their community in any little way, to alleviate the harsh economic situation people were passing through.
“For what we have seen today, we are very grateful to the Almighty God in the first place, and we thank our brothers and sisters in diaspora for giving us this palliative. It is a relief in this trying period and we are very grateful
One of the beneficiaries, Miss Idongesit Sunday said that the donation came in good time, adding that the people have been endured the lockdown for one month.
“The economy is really biting hard on the less privileged. These gestures from our brothers and sisters in the Netherlands will not be forgotten,” she said.
