On Friday, the Victims Support Fund (VSF) distributed relief materials to more than 3, 000 households affected by COVID-19 pandemic and terror attacks in Kogi. The fund also commissioned a solar-powered borehole to three schools in the state, including Government Girls Secondary School, Sarkin Noma in Lokoja metropolis.
Presenting the relief materials, Mr Toyosi Ekerele-Ogunsuji, Chairperson, COVID-19 Taskforce of Victims Support Fund in Lokoja, said that the gesture was aimed at giving succour to victims of the virus.
“COVID-19 pandemic didn’t choose where to ravage but it was all round and people were dying. So our Chairman, Gen T.Y. Danjuma, decided to inaugurate a taskforce and gave us an instruction and mandate to go round Nigeria and support vulnerable communities.”
“We understand there are no internally Displaced persons (IDPs) but because of our dedication and commitment, we are today in this rural community having initiated projects which will help to touch lives of the rural poor in Kogi”
“Besides these materials such as personal protective equipment, half mask suits, surgical masks, usable face masks and hand sanitiser, we also provide food items and water to the communities.”
“What we are doing here today is the testament to the quality of data-driven and knowledge-based thinking that VSF epitomizes. We are into identifying communities that have needs. This is what we think the private-led humanitarian organization should also be thinking and doing the help develop the rural communities.”
“This is because focusing resources on the rural dwellers drive a sort of inclusion and equitable distribution of resources whereby everybody irrespective of gender, age, and economic status won’t be left behind,” she explained.
At Government Girls Secondary School Sarkin Noma, Ekerele-Ogunsuji said two more boreholes were sunk at Ttayi Government Secondary School in Okene and Muslim Community College, Eneyi Iregwede.
The COVID-19 Taskforce chairperson tasked the management, staff and students of the respective schools to carefully maintain the boreholes for their benefits and those around their environs.
The Kogi Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, who commissioned the distribution of relief materials and boreholes, thanked VSF for considering the people of the state for such a laudable gestures.
Onoja said that the relief materials and the water provided would go along way in providing succour and hope to the victims.
Also responding, the Principal of Government Girls Secondary School Sarkin Noma, Hajia Fatima Salihu, described the gesture as “apt and a big relief” to the school and the surrounding community.
She thanked the VSF, especially Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, for his humanitarian services and wished him more of God’s grace to do more for the vulnerable citizens of Nigeria.
NAN reports that the food items donated to the Kogi Government for distribution to victims in the 21 local government areas, included rice, gari, palm oil and vegetable oil, among others.