Christmas: Tinubu’s Wife Gifts Bauchi Christian Community 1000 Bags of Rice to Celebrate Yuletide

•As SDG for her kicks off distribution of 1,000 food boxes to beneficiaries in Lagos

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi 

Members of the Northern Nigeria Christian Political Forum in Bauchi State have received 1000 bags of 25kg rice from Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to enable them celebrate the Christmas and new year.

The gift of the items was done under the Renew Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led APC administration aimed at reducing the negative impact of the current economic situation in the country.

Meanwhile, in Lagos, an NGO, Sustainable Development Goals for Her Initiative (SDGforHer) has kicked-off the distribution of 1000 food boxes to residents under its 1000 for Her Food Drive to ensure beneficiaries have a memorable yuletide celebration.

At the flag-off on Saturday in Oniru Area of Lekki, Lagos, where the first 500 beneficiaries got their food boxes, the founder of SDGforHer, Mrs. Hannah Ayilaran-Omon, said in the boxes are 5kg of rice, one kg vegetable oil, seasoning, spaghetti, tomato paste, salt, among other items that can make a meal.

In Bauchi, announcing the donation on Monday while handing over the items, the State Coordinator of the Northern Nigeria Christian Political Forum, Ayuba Umar Yelwa, said that the donation was done under the auspices of the organization across the Nineteen Northern States and FCT.

According to him, “Her Excellency, Wife of the President has, in her usual compassionate manner, donated 1000 bags of 25kg to the Christian community in Bauchi State to enable them celebrate the Christmas and the new year.

“The items are to be distributed to Christians across the 20 LGAs of the state, she stressed that widows, widowers, people with disabilities and other vulnerable people should be considered first before others,” he added.

According to him, “This is the first time we are enjoying such privilege from the presidency, particularly Office of the Wife of President as an organisation under the leadership of Hon. Amin Sani Jaji. We are most grateful.”

He stressed that the gesture which was a result of the meeting the organization had with Sen Oluremi Tinubu on the 19th December, 2024 at Kaduna, will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings people are going through.

“In the presence of you journalists, I am going to distribute the 1000 bags to all the LGA Coordinators who will in turn distribute to the Wards Coordinator who also will identify the beneficiaries and hand over to them according to her instructions,” he added.

He prayed for good health for the Wife of President and her husband, Mr. President, Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu to enable them continue what he described as good, efficient and effective leadership in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the coordinators, Iliya Bukar, coordinator of Bauchi LGA commended the kind gesture of the First Lady saying that it will go a long in putting smiles in the faces of the beneficiaries at this festive time.

He assured that the LGA Coordinators will be fair and just in the distribution of the items as it will go down to the main beneficiaries as directed by the donor.

Also speaking, the only Woman among the Coordinators, Mrs Saratu John stated that the items came at the right time that they are needed considering the hardship people are experiencing presently.

She assured that the targeted beneficiaries will get the item as directed in order to make the Yuletide season a moment of joy to them and their families.

On her part in Lagos, the founder of SDGforHer, Mrs. Hannah Ayilaran-Omon, added that the goal is to provide women with enough food items that can sustain them and their families for the festive period.

“We believe that people need food at this period and it is a critical need that should be addressed at this time of the year.”

She disclosed that additional 500 food boxes would be given out next week in Shomolu area of Lagos.

“We believe that this would reduce the financial pressure on the beneficiaries based on the current situation of the economy.”

Ayilaran-Omon revealed that they started the distribution of food items to women during yuletide last year in Ajegunle where 100 women got food boxes.

“But this year, we are so audacious, we have increased it to 1000, and we are grateful to our sponsors and volunteers, which has helped it to reach its goal. We are grateful to organisations that are socially responsible as we believe that their collaboration has made the project a success,” she said.

She nonetheless appealed for more support as the foundation hopes to triple the number of food boxes that would be distributed next year and even take the project beyond Lagos State.

“People are going through a lot; things are hard and it has been a very tedious year and we all know that we need to help one another to survive.

“So, we believe that if everybody can come together in whatever form and provide the little they have, we can address SGD 2, which is zero hunger and ensure everyone has a meal on their plate to celebrate the Christmas,” Ayilaran-Omon stated.