At Christmas, foundations give succour to widows, IDPs, others

It was smiles and songs on the lips of many as a non-governmental organisation, Emmanuel Umohinyang Foundation, marked its 10th anniversary and the founder’s birthday on December 23. The Adebayo Dejonwo Estate neighbourhood in Maryland area of Lagos State became a mecca of sorts as hundreds trooped to the venue to benefit from the many gift items on offer, including over 2,000 bags of rice, a share of 20 cows’ meat slaughtered for distribution, different kinds of musical equipment, air conditioning units, chairs and many more. Hundreds of widows also got scholarships for their children to further their education.

Umohinyang, a lawyer, is also leader of the Re-elect Buhari Movement. Apart from the less privileged who were beneficiaries of the foundation’s largesse, churches in the neighbourhood, like Lutheran Church of Nigeria, Christ Embassy and Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), also benefitted. Without their knowledge, the foundation had procured musical instruments and chairs, which some of them lacked.

Wife of the president, Aisha Buhari, who was represented by Usman Alilu, lauded the foundation for sparing a thought for the less privileged in the society. Alilu who is younger brother to the president’s wife, tasked well-to-do Nigerians on the virtues of sharing.

Speaking on his motivation, Umohiyang told newsmen: “In my place, a man cannot be said to be serving God without serving people around him. Prophet T.B. Joshua also says when we give, it makes us like God who gives to everybody, yet collects from no one. I am always happy when I am in a position to give. It makes me happy.”

Meanwhile, another NGO, Chief Ndubuisi Foundation, has pledged its commitment towards supporting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), widows, farmers, and poor women in rural villages with relief materials to promote sustainable livelihoods during yuletide and beyond.

The foundation, led by Chief Ndubuisi Nzenweofor, donated relief materials, which included bags of rice, cartons of noodles, gallons of groundnut oil and red oil, sanitary pads, mosquito nets and repellents, cash among others to IDP camps in Benue, Taraba and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Nzenweofor said he would go round the 36 states of the federation.