Kunle ADELABU
Some of the beneficiaries of iCare food program ‘Apo Anu’ on queue to collec April ratio at Hon. Babajimi Benson Federal Constituency Office in Ikorodu on Saturday
To Hon. Babajimi Benson, the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives in Abuja and members of his iCare team, the recent global recognition for his effort in eradicating hunger in the world is just an impetus as they intensifies efforts to continue the monthly distribution of food items to the constituents.
The 30th edition of the scheme was held on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Hon. Benson’s Federal Constituency office in Ikorodu during which another set of 500 beneficiaries were given bags of food containing food items such as rice, beans, milk, beverages and other staple foods.
Among the beneficiaries were widows, elderly persons , vulnerable individuals, less privileged among others in the constituency.
The lawmaker, who recently secured another mandate of his people, was invited to the 14th Annual Presidents United to Solve Hunger(PUSH) and Universities Fighting World Hunger Summit(UFWH) at the University of Maine , United States of America last month as a panelist on a discourse titled,” UN Challenge 2030: Working to Achieve a Zero Hunger World”.
The lawmaker joined other stakeholders across the world to discuss the issue of global hunger and finding ways out of the menace.
The invitation to the global summit came in recognition of Hon. Benson’s efforts, through his iCare Food Bank initiative, to eradicate hunger in his immediate environment as well as in acknowledgement of iCare’s success in deploying data to meet the food needs of people in Ikorodu Constituency.
The program commenced in October 2016 with about 300 beneficiaries and was increased to 500 beneficiaries a year after. This, according to the Director-General of iCare Foundation, Mayor Deen Sanwoolu, is to allow more people to benefit from the program.
According to Sanwoola at the first year anniversary of the foodbank program, over 10, 000 people had been fed through the initiative.
If over 10, 000 beneficiaries have indeed been provided with food items in a year, one can imagine the number of families that would have benefitted in two years and six months of existence of iCare Foodbank program.
Speaking with THE IMPACT, Mr Bayo Oteju, a senior legislative aide to Hon. Benson, stated that iCare is more than before committed to eradicating hunger in Ikorodu Division.
“Our effort in contributing to the global efforts in eradicating hunger is not in doubt. You have seen that in the responses of beneficiaries and recently, the invitation of Hon. Benson to participate in the summit to eradicate hunger held in United States of America.
“It was in recognition of his effort not to make people go to bed hungry. This singular effort has been recognized as a major step to eradicate hunger in Africa”.
He stated that iCare is not resting on its efforts and that the lawmaker and his group are more determined than before to reach out to more people in his attempt to provide foos for those in need.
In appreciation of the lawmaker’s impact, cluster of beneficiaries took their turns to swarm round the lawmaker and offer him prayers on his arrival at the event .
First were the Muslim beneficiaries who prayed for his progress, increased ability and capability, longetivity and success to be able to continue the program.
They were followed by their Christians counterparts who also offered prayers for the continous success of the lawmaker.
In his usual conduct, Hon. Benson, after the prayer sessions, went round to greet the beneficiaries and assured them that the food program would continue unhindered while also praying that the beneficiaries would also be elevated to enable them provide for those in need.
The distribution process involved checking the validity of the beneficiaries’ collection cards while on queue to ensure that the numbers on them tally with the ones with the organizers to prevent usurpers after which they were given the food bags .
In their respective responses, beneficiaries commended Hon. Benson and his team for sustaining the scheme which has put food on the tables of many families despite the huge financial cost incurred in the just concluded General elections.
