Foundation fetes 500 elderly in Kogi, seeks citizens support for President Tinubu’s reforms
A former Board member of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, (NNPC), Dr. (Mrs.) Lami Onayi Ahmed, has called on Nigerians to keep fate with president Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s reforms, aimed at repositioning the economy of the country, saying that the country and people will be better for it.
Speaking in her country home, Idoma-Obehira in Okene Local Government of Kogi state, where she fed over 500 persons, Mrs. Ahmed, noted that the Key reforms of the present administration, though harsh, will bring prosperity to the country.
Mrs Ahmed who is also the founder and Executive Director, (ED), Lift Up Care Foundation, (LUCAF) a Non governmental organization, said it takes a courageous and bold leader like President Tinubu take take measures to correct decades of wrought and decay in the Nigeria system, not minding the consequences on his popularity.
She regretted that the subsidy regim which only benefited a few Nigerians in the past, only help to destroy the very foundation of Nigeria, saying that the removal of the fuel subsidy would reposition the economy for efficiency and greater good of the nation and it’s people .
“Only few Nigerians have been benefiting from the payment of fuel subsidy. This is counterproductive. How many of you have benefited from several years of subsidy payment. certainly non of you. It has only helped to retrogress the country’s development.
“Some will even say this is not the right time. If I may ask, when is the right time. All the indices currently showed that the policy reforms are yielding positive results. It will get better on the long run.
“Take for example the past reform in the telecoms Sector some years back. As difficult as it was then, the result has shown that it was the best decision ever in that sector. At a point people were buying MTN lines for over N50, 000. Competition came in and the situation changed for good. As at today, some of the telecoms service providers were giving the lines out free of charge. It will happen in the oil sector.
“I know it’s not easy for our people. Every reform poses difficulty for the people, not only in Nigeria. But let us focus on the end result. We are already seeing positive signs. As a key player in the industry for several years, I’m very optimistic that it will get better by the day.
She called on the people to continue to support the reforms of the president, noting that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu meant well for the country, saying he may not be popular today, but optimistic that posterity will adjudged him one of the best presidents to have led the country.
On why she choose to feed the people every, year, she said that one of the needs of the people is food, saying that was why she decided to also provide food for the people yearly to foster the spirit communality , in addition to other interventions she provided periodically.
“This is what we have been doing periodically since 2002 when Lift Up Care Foundation came on board. We have organized a lot of robust programmes that has positive impact on the people at the grassroots.
“Our focus has been on the elderly, widows, youth education and health. One of the key focus of the NGO is stomach infrastructure because some body who hasn’t eaten very well can not be healthy. Somebody who is sick or going to school needs food.
“Therefore one basic thing that human being need to survive is food and that is why periodically we call people together and feed them particularly the aged who are vulnerable in the community and this is an opportunities for them to come and enjoy a quality meal.
Through this programme you can always see the happiness and joy on their faces. The purpose of the programme is to support the people with our food support project which is inline with other things we do as NGO in the area of health , education , youth and women empowernment.
We are delighted that over the years we have been surviving through the support of some donors who are stakeholders that we work with.
Today in this Obehira community we have plan to feed over 500 people and you can see how the people are coming out in their numbers and in orderly manner.
Interestingly , when we are planing this feeding support programme we began to hear what happened in Ibadan, Anambra , Abuja but for us this is what we do every year and the people in the rural area are peaceful and they organized themselves in orderly manner.
To add glamour to this year’s programme we officially invited the Chairperson of Kogi NGO network Ambassador Muraina and some of his members to come down to the community, observe and validate what we are doing here in Obehira peacefully.
Speaking also, the Chairperson of Kogi NGOs Network, (KONGONET) Ambassador Idris Ozovehe Muraina noted that Lift Up Care Foundation is one of the non governmental organization in Kogi State that has carried out a lot of programmes that have direct impact on the lives of the people at the grassroots.
“The NGO has been providing succour to the vulnerable people in the rural areas. We were invited to this feeding support programme of the NGO and we have been here we observed and offered advise where necessary and the programme to the glory of Almighty God is moving smoothly no stampede , no crisis , the beneficiaries behave themselves in orderly manner which is good to our society.
“The NGO is feeding over 500 indigent citizens during the yuletide season and for us this is are some of the programmes encourage among the people that can extend hands of fellowship to other people especially during this period of economic hardship.
“If God blessed you with wealth and you are celebrating you should do that with people especially the less privilege. Today we are at Udoma in Obehira community, Okene local government area where Lift Up Care Foundation is feeding 500 people.
“I am using this medium to appeal to government to support civil society organizations to enable them touch the lives of the people at the grassroots
