COVID-19: Lagos vulnerable residents get palliatives from Nigerians in Diaspora Organization May 21

• to launch “Feed Nigeria Fund” to tackle hunger among the poor

Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, Americas (NIDOA), U.S. says it will next week begin distribution of COVID-19 palliatives to vulnerable populations from the various ethnic groups resident in Lagos State with a population of over 20 million.

The palliatives will include food packages such as rice, beans, garri, power oil and Maggi as well as reusable masks.

The organization’s Public Relations Officer, Dr Yinka Tella, said the exercise which is part of NIDO Americas USA’s WECARE COVID-19 palliatives initiative will be held on Thursday, May 21 and Friday, May 22, with Ajegunle, Mile 12, and Ayobo/Ipaja communities benefitting.

The exercise will be conducted in partnership with the Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT), Nigeria Chapter, and community leaders in the target areas, he said in a statement given to  Persecondnews in New York.

NIDO Americas USA chairman, Ms. Patience Ndidi Key, said the organization was moved to assist some of those whose means of livelihood have been truncated by shelter-in-place orders.

She promised that a “Feed Nigeria Fund” would soon be launched to tackle hunger on a sustainable basis.

Key stressed the need for strategic alliances between NIDO Americas USA and trusted organizations like OWIT to execute projects in Nigeria.

OWIT Nigeria President, Ms. Blessing Irabor, who lauded the initiative, said:“I want to appreciate NIDO Americas USA for considering our organization a worthy local partner to execute this project. I pray God Almighty strengthens them and replenishes the sources where this money came from.’’

Also commenting on the initiative, Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States, Mr Sylvanus Nsofor,commended NIDO Americas USA for its “admirable tradition of excellence and service.’’

He spoke through Mr Yakubu Suleiman, the Head of Economic, Trade and Investment at the Embassy.

Nigeria’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Samson Itegboje said the organization had exhibited an “excellent act of patriotism and genuine love for humanity towards Nigeria and its people”.

For the Nigerian Consul General in New York, Mr Ben Okoyen, acknowledged NIDO Americas USA’s act of “selflessly reaching out to the poor in our society.”

Founded in 2000, Nigerians in Diaspora Organization Americas, USA is exclusively recognized by the Nigerian Government  as the umbrella organization for Nigerians in the Diaspora which mandates all foreign missions to support the development of the organization.

NIDO provides a unique platform for intellectuals, technocrats, policy makers, workers and all Nigerians in Diaspora to present development propositions to the government at all levels.

Nigerian-Americans have been rated as the most educated immigrant group in the United States comprising largely of medical doctors, nurses, university professors, entrepreneurs and other professionals who contribute significantly to the social and economic well-being of the United States.