The Rotary Club of Agbor led by Rotarian Nkechi Odum on Wednesday, June 3, handed out palliatives in form of food items including, cartons of indomie noodles, rice, beans and some condiments, to thirty recipients. The event took place at the prestigious Leeds Guest House and was attended by notable members of the club including, Rotn Emeke Utebor, Rotn Andy Mordi, Rotn Henry Emelue, Rotn Pat Ogbetuo among others.
Addressing journalists, the club’s President, Rotn Nkechi Odum who is also the incoming Assistant Governor, Rotary District, 9141, stated that the gesture was necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the hardship it brought in its wake. She stressed that with the lockdown and other preventive measures adopted by government and health institutions to flatten the curve of the virus, a lot of people, especially artisans and those in the informal sector have been adversely affected and therefore, stand at the threshold of hunger and misery.
In her words, “we as a club deemed it fit to lend a helping hand to some people in the community who have been greatly affected as a result of the lockdown and its attendant drawbacks. Agbor people are predominantly farmers and traders and as such, most have seen their means of livelihood destabilized. We selected the most vulnerable to benefit from this palliative including widows, old people and those who are out of jobs. It’s our own little way of reaching out to the needy amongst us and also augmenting the efforts of government in combating the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects in the society”.
While urging residents to adhere to the safety protocols stipulated by government in the fight against the pandemic including, social distancing, avoiding crowded places, regular handwashing, use of alcohol based sanitizers and facemasks, she solicited the support of well meaning individuals and organizations in providing succour to the needy and vulnerable in the community, noting that “at this very trying time, we should learn to be our brother’s keepers and try to lend a helping hand to those in need around us”.
One of the beneficiaries (name undisclosed), a market woman and widowed mother of three who spoke with our reporter, was full of joy and thanked members of the club for their kind gesture. She stated since the advent of the pandemic and closure of markets except on specified days, things became quite difficult and that the food items will go a long way in alleviating her present hardship.
