A woman who received food donations at Ushafa, Bwari Area Council Friday
By Dave Iyima
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Social Investment
Programmes, Barrister Ismaeel Ahmed has led a collective effort of other aides of the President, Vice President, Senate President and Speaker alongside members of the Buhari New Media Centre, the All
Progressives Congress Youth Forum (APYF), and other well-meaning young
people to set up a food pantry to distribute food to households affected by the lockdown in and around the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The SSA to the President Friday led the entourage to Ushafa in Bwari
Area Council of the FCT where they donated 100 bags of 5kg rice, 100 bags of 2.5kg bags a of beans, vegetable oil and packs of indomie to hundred households in the community.
Progressives Congress Youth Forum (APYF), and other well-meaning young
people to set up a food pantry to distribute food to households affected by the lockdown in and around the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The SSA to the President Friday led the entourage to Ushafa in Bwari
Area Council of the FCT where they donated 100 bags of 5kg rice, 100 bags of 2.5kg bags a of beans, vegetable oil and packs of indomie to hundred households in the community.
Recipients of the donations made by Barrister Ismaeel to indigent members of the Ushafa Community in Bwari Area Council Friday
Ahmed also made a cash donation of an undisclosed amount to a blind young man, Michael Jeremiah, a graduate of GSS, Kwali, stating that Michael’s determination and zeal was exemplary to physically-challenged people.He further encouraged him not to relent in his life’s pursuits.
In his remarks after the distribution, Ahmed noted that the donations were being made from personal resources of himself and all
the other people explaining that they had felt a strong need to collaborate and pool resources together to distribute food to these communities and needy homes, given the lockdown announced by the federal government in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states.
“We understand that a lot of families would be hit hard by this lockdown, especially those who live in the outskirts of Abuja. A lot of non-essential and small business staff who live on the outskirts of
the FCT depend on daily economic activities to survive. A lockdown for them means that there is no income, and there is no food. This is why we pooled our resources together to distribute food to these
particular persons who would be affected by the lockdown,” Barrister Ahmed explained.
In his remarks after the distribution, Ahmed noted that the donations were being made from personal resources of himself and all
the other people explaining that they had felt a strong need to collaborate and pool resources together to distribute food to these communities and needy homes, given the lockdown announced by the federal government in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states.
“We understand that a lot of families would be hit hard by this lockdown, especially those who live in the outskirts of Abuja. A lot of non-essential and small business staff who live on the outskirts of
the FCT depend on daily economic activities to survive. A lockdown for them means that there is no income, and there is no food. This is why we pooled our resources together to distribute food to these
particular persons who would be affected by the lockdown,” Barrister Ahmed explained.
He further noted that donations from the food pantry which he had set up are targeted at artisans, the aged and elderly, physically-challenged and widows and single parents.
“When we go into the community we liaise with the community leaders to
help us identify the poorest among them who are physically-challenged,
artisans, aged and widows. We are targeting a total of a hundred
households per community we visit.”
Abu Andrew Abu, the coordinator of the project stated that the team had previously visited Garki and Unguwuan Gade, of Kuje Area Council in the FCT earlier during the week, stating that they would be
visiting other communities that are affected by the lockdown.
“Those who are severely affected by this lockdown are every day people who mostly work in the centre of town but live in the outskirts, in Suleja, Bwari, Nyanya, Mpape and Gwagwalada. We would be visiting
these places and making donations to them. We also have in mind small
indigent communities of masons and labourers even within the township
area.
“We are aware that the government is doing its part in alleviating the
sufferings of the poor. But there is so much that the government can do. We must bridge the gap, and that is what we are doing, in our own little way,” Abu said.
help us identify the poorest among them who are physically-challenged,
artisans, aged and widows. We are targeting a total of a hundred
households per community we visit.”
Abu Andrew Abu, the coordinator of the project stated that the team had previously visited Garki and Unguwuan Gade, of Kuje Area Council in the FCT earlier during the week, stating that they would be
visiting other communities that are affected by the lockdown.
“Those who are severely affected by this lockdown are every day people who mostly work in the centre of town but live in the outskirts, in Suleja, Bwari, Nyanya, Mpape and Gwagwalada. We would be visiting
these places and making donations to them. We also have in mind small
indigent communities of masons and labourers even within the township
area.
“We are aware that the government is doing its part in alleviating the
sufferings of the poor. But there is so much that the government can do. We must bridge the gap, and that is what we are doing, in our own little way,” Abu said.
Barrister Ahmed, left, with Michael Jeremiah, a blind graduate of GSS Kwali, who he gave a personal cash donation.
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