The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has distributed 40,000 bags of rice to the 17 host communities of the Dangote Cement, Ibese plant, along with Itori, Igbogila, and Ilaro on in Ogun State.
Also, beneficiaries in Ibese and Araromi each received one bag at the palace of Aboro of Ibeseland, Oba Rotimi Mulero.
The donation was part of the Foundation’s N15 billion National Food Intervention Programme.
Ijebu-Igbo, the host communities to Dangote Granite Mines will soon receive their allocation as the rice for the area has been delivered in preparation for distribution.
The Chief Executive Officer of the ADF, Zouera Youssoufou said the rice distribution is in addition to the Foundation’s daily bread relief programme, that is producing and distributing over 32,000 family-size loaves of bread across Kano and Lagos States every day since 2020 following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.
She said: “It is noteworthy that Dangote’s efforts in nutrition strengthening in Nigeria extend well beyond the foundation’s food relief programmes and nutrition activities. The Dangote Group has been actively investing in food fortification across the Nigerian food industry, with its iodized salt, vitamin A fortified sugar, while researches are on-going into micronutrient fortification of staples like rice, wheat, and bouillon cubes”.
Chairman of ADF and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, launched the food intervention programme in Kano in March, saying the Foundation will distribute over one million 10kg bags in the 774 local government areas of the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory, FCT in Nigeria at a cost of about N15 billion.
Dangote said: “the modalities for the programme involve collaboration with state and local governments as well as local community partners to ensure effective delivery of the rice to the most vulnerable across the country, regardless of state, tribe, gender, religion, politics, or other attributes, “ he added.
The Aboro of Ibeseland expressed gratitude on behalf of his communities to the Foundation for its benevolence in distributing rice at this time of economic challenge, saying the gesture would benefit many households where staple food like rice has become scarce.
He likened Dangote’s initiative to Operation Feed the Nation (OFN), introduced by the military government of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo over 46 years ago to revitalize agriculture and ensure food availability for all Nigerians.
Oba Mulero stated, “we are grateful to Alhaji Aliko Dangote. The rice gift is very impressive given the current situation in the country. We really appreciate him. What he has done can be likened to Operation Feed the Nation of those days. That is what I will call it. He has done well to decide to feed the people. Everybody is vulnerable now in this country.”
