Wife of the Rivers State Governor, Valerie Siminalayi Fubara, has presented 2,400 bags of rice and cash to the poor, vulnerable and physically challenged residents in the 23 local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the event which took place at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Fubara said the gesture was part of the Renewed Hope Initiative Food Security Programme steered by the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
She explained that through the RHI, Senator Tinubu is working in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to bring succour to Nigerians who are experiencing excruciating economic conditions to rekindle hope in them.
Fubara said, “The reason why we are gathered here is, our mother, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, presented to every state of the Federation a gift of 25kg bags of rice.
“For Rivers State, we received a total of 2,400 bags of 25kg rice. So, we say a big thank you to our mother. As part of our little way, the Rivers State Government also has attached cash to the bags of rice that will be distributed to the 23 Local Government Areas, including the National Council for Women Society and non-indigenes.
“Every LGA is going home with 90 bags of rice each. I believe that every LGA is represented here. Please, I want to plead with you, when you take it to the LGAs, ensure that it gets to the right people that it is supposed to get to: the vulnerable, the physically challenged, and less-privileged people. You know those that need these bags of rice.”
Mrs Fubara warned that the gift of bags of rice and the accompanying cash should not be used for what she described as “something to use to make friendship or make family relative happy.”
She charged those who represented their various local government areas to receive their donations with hearts of gratitude and ensure they resisted the temptation of truncating the purpose that has been clearly stated.
In her remarks, the Rivers State President of the NCWS, Mrs Jetiba Soberekon, who received on behalf of her association, said they were happy that women are carried along with the scheme.
She assured them that what they have received will be strictly distributed to the less-privileged and vulnerable among them to give them a lease of life.
In her reaction, Dr Juliet Berewari, who represented Ahoada East Local Government Area to receive 90 bags of rice and cash, expressed appreciation to Senator Tinubu and Lady Fubara for the gesture that, according to her, will contribute to putting food on the table of the venerable people in the rural areas.
Also speaking, Mrs Princess Sokariba Youdowei, who received on behalf of Ahoada West Local Government Area, said they were extremely excited about the thoughtfulness of their mothers who have remembered to extend such gesture to those who are barely struggling to survive, stressing that the gifts will offer better hope to them.
For Bonny Local Government Area, Mrs Sarah Georgewill, who received the 90 bags of rice and cash, noted that people were really finding it difficult to feed, adding that this gesture will wipe tears off their eyes and rekindle hope that they are remembered and cared for by kind-hearted mothers like Senator Tinubu and Lady Fubara.
The bags of rice and cash gifts were also distributed to the Motherless Babies’ Home, Borokiri; Cheshire Home, Port Harcourt Township; and Home for the Elderly, Harbour Road; all in Port Harcourt.