The founder of Jude Charity Organisation, Chief Jude Ejoh, has called on the Nigerian government to as a matter of urgency, tackle hunger and poverty among Nigerians.
This was just as the US-based philanthropist warned that if hunger is not timely addressed, it might become a ticking bomb that will consume the nation.
Jude also called on well-meaning Nigerians in the diaspora to contribute to providing food and shelter to millions of Nigerians languishing in abject poverty.
In a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Wednesday, Jude noted that the number of Nigerians who have resorted to street begging in the past few months, as a result of extreme hardship is alarming.
“The rate at which Nigerians are becoming impoverished is alarming. Many have taken to the streets, begging to feed their families and make ends meet. This hardship is largely occasioned by corruption, where resources meant to care for the people are shared among the few, thereby leaving the larger population impoverished.”
He stated further that corruption is the bane of hardship in the country, fueling inequality, and stifling economic growth thereby creating hardship among Nigerians.
“Corruption is deeply entrenched in Nigeria’s political and administrative systems. It undermines governance, fuels inequality, and stifles economic growth. Public funds are often siphoned off, leaving critical sectors like education, healthcare, and infrastructure grossly underfunded. The pervasive nature of corruption also erodes public trust in government institutions, making it difficult to implement meaningful reforms.
“This perceived corruption has equally led to insecurity as many able-body young men have taken to crimes like kidnapping, armed robbery and ritual killings.
“All these factors have led to the rising cost of living which places a heavy burden on families, many of whom spend a significant portion of their income on necessities. This economic strain often forces families to make difficult choices, such as pulling children out of school to help with household income.”
He added that as a charity foundation, helping the poor and less privileged has become its responsibility.
“As a charity foundation, over five thousand Nigerians throng our social platforms to seek help, many of these people are young individuals who are not employed. This is a ticking time bomb as these individuals could take to crime and other vices just to feed.
“The Jude Charity Organisation has taken it as a duty to mitigate hunger in society by trying to ensure that hungry Nigerians are fed with the support of international donors and wealthy individuals in the society. Over the years, The Jude Charity Organization has been at the forefront of alleviating poverty and hunger, by providing monetary support and food supplies to thousands of families in Delta State and other parts of Nigeria.
“Jude Charity Organization is calling on the Nigerian government to do more by empowering young people through the creation of industry, skill acquisition initiatives, and ensuring security to farmers to help boost food production and support families through SMEs.”