First Lady of Rivers State, Lady 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 Government House in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Lady Fubara said the gesture is part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Security Programme (FSP) steered by the wife of the President of Nigeria, 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 with the aim of rekindling hope in them.
Lady 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 the total of 2,400 bags of 25kg rice. So, we say a big thank you to our mother.
“And, as part of our own 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 (NCWS) and non-indigenes.
Lady Fubara stated further that: “Every LGA is going home with 90 bags of rice each. I believe that every LGA is represented here.
“And 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, less-privileged people. You know those that really need these bags of rice.”
Lady 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 heart of gratitude, and ensure they resist the temptation of truncating the purpose that has been clearly stated.
In her remarks, the Rivers State President of National Council of Women Society (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 that what they have received will be strictly distributed to the less-privileged and vunerable 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 for 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.
