The Concerned Nation Builders Initiative (CNI), a non-governmental organisation has distributed food items worth thousands of naira to over hundred (100) vulnerable, downtrodden and less privileged across Epe division of Lagos State.
The NGO is known over the years for her swift responses to issues affecting the grassroots and making life better for sundry.
The year 2022 food relief programme tagged: “Operation Feed The Grassroots” was held on Thursday, at the Noforija Town Hall, Eredo LCDA, Epe Division and it well attended by notables personalities across the Division, which include; Epe, Eredo, Ikosi-Ejirin and Ibeju-Lekki respectively.
According to the Director-General, Mr Idris Tele Olukoya, said that the distribution of the food items to the less privileged was in a bid towards supporting the government in her quest to provide foods for all.
In his address at the event, Olukoya said;
“Food starvation is one of those aggravating issues that needs our detailed attention. Concerned Nation Builders Initiative (CNI) is committed in doing everything it can to provide enough food for everyone. We know that there are thousands of needies out there who cannot afford basic necessities”.
“Having daily nutritious food is one of them, which is why we are on a mission to offer food for everyone”.
“We are truly passionate to resolve this unfortunate issue, so that every deserving person around us can get a better living, ” he said.
Olukoya added that, the NGO would soon open its CNI FOOD BANK in Epe Division where everyone would have quarterly access to food supplement periodically.
In his speech, the Guest Lecturer, Dr. Abdulkareem Onakoya of the Department of Political Science, Lagos State University of Education, said that Nigeria is still crawling after 62 years of birth in terms of food security and provision of better living conditions for the citizens.
He mentioned four basic reasons Nigeria is currently experiencing shortfalls in the Agricultural sector occasioning the present situation in the country.
“These are; Insecurity, Unfavourable government policies, Climatic change and flood, COVID-19 experiences”.
He bemoaned the attention of the Nigerian government to the sector with only 1.7% of the total annual budget to agriculture.
“This is totally against the Malabo Declaration of 2014 which actually puts it at 10.5% for all African nations”
He recommended that; “Everybody should embrace subsistence farming system and go back to ‘backyard farming’. The government can’t provide all our needs”.
“Our senior citizens must be catered for by the government through the social safety net. It is imperative and important now that poverty is ravaging the nation at an alarming rate”.
In his own comment, the Agbon of Epe land, Chief Yesiru Dada stated that to curb the situation of food starvation in the society, there is need for all to practice the old farming system.
He urged the people to teach the younger ones on how to cultivate and harvest farm produces.
He commended the CNI team for the laudable steps taken in different sectors of our nation.
“They are doing great and well. They must be encouraged”.
The Baale of Odogbonle, High Chief Adebajo Shanu, commended the activities and programmes of the CNI in touching the lives of the people in the grassroots positively.
“They are making frantic efforts to make us happy, particularly the elderly ones. I pray Almighty Allah to continue providing for them in manifolds”.
Similarly, Mrs Monsumola Adefuye, an activist and erudite scholar commended the efforts of CNI and encourage them not to relent in their quest/zeal to make life favourable for all.
Adefuye advised beneficiaries to plant crops at their backyard.
She said that the development would make life more easier for them to have daily access to some food to consume.
