In a bid to alleviate the economic hardships faced by the people, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State launched the operation “Feed the Hungry Initiative” on Friday, allocating N1 billion to the program. The governor emphasized that the prevailing hunger and economic challenges in Nigeria are self-inflicted, expressing his concern for the economic dangers when he initially raised the alarm.
During the launch at St. Paul’s Pastoral Centre in Benin City and a meeting with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the League of Muslim Imams, Governor Obaseki disclosed that the first phase of the initiative aims to assist over 60,000 residents of the state through CAN and Muslim communities.
Governor Obaseki highlighted the collaboration with religious bodies, acknowledging the increased burden on the church due to extreme economic hardship in recent years. He explained that the initiative would be primarily driven by CAN, with the government providing funds and monitoring the process to ensure its success. The governor committed N1 billion for the pilot phase, which will be placed in a dedicated account for the program.
The Archbishop of Benin Catholic Church, Dr. Augustine Akubeze, expressed gratitude to the governor for addressing the plight of the poor and hungry in the face of economic challenges. The Chairman of CAN in Edo State, Irekpono Omoike, commended Obaseki and assured that Christian blocs in the state would ensure that the targeted individuals benefit from the initiative. The Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Abdulfatai Enabulele, also praised the governor for the initiative and pledged the support of the clerics to make the program successful.
