The Wife of the Delta State Governor, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, has reaffirmed her commitment to improving the welfare of vulnerable women and families as 2,500 women across the 25 local government areas of the state benefited from the third edition of the Delta State Food Bank Initiative.
The beneficiaries received food items and cash support of ₦50,000 each at the event, organised by the Office of the First Lady at the Event Centre, Asaba, on Wednesday.
The initiative, which is aimed at alleviating food insecurity and supporting vulnerable households, had 100 beneficiaries drawn from each of the 25 local government areas of the state.
Speaking at the event, Oborevwori said the intervention was driven by her commitment to supporting women, particularly those experiencing economic hardship and struggling to provide for their families.
She noted that women often bear significant responsibility for ensuring food availability and meeting the daily needs of their households, making assistance directed at them beneficial to entire families.
According to her, the food bank initiative was established to provide practical support to women in need, ease their financial burdens and put smiles on their faces.
The First Lady stressed that development should not be measured solely by the construction of roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure but should also include investments in human capital and programmes that directly improve people’s lives.
She urged individuals and organisations to demonstrate compassion towards vulnerable members of society by offering assistance within their means.
Oborevwori also encouraged the beneficiaries to use the cash and food items judiciously to meet essential household needs and improve the welfare of their families.
Beyond the food bank programme, she highlighted the activities of the You Matter Charity Foundation, which she founded to support vulnerable residents in the state.
She disclosed that the foundation had also conducted free medical outreaches across the federal constituencies in Delta State as part of efforts to improve access to healthcare and support people in need.
The First Lady emphasised the need to create opportunities for residents across the state to benefit from government programmes and social intervention initiatives, particularly those designed to improve the living conditions of vulnerable households.
In her welcome address, the Wife of the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Ezinne Catherine Onyeme, underscored the importance of compassion, care and support for women and families.
Onyeme observed that women carry enormous responsibilities in providing food, caring for their children and meeting other household needs.
She said supporting women through targeted interventions would ultimately benefit their families and contribute to the well-being of communities.
The wife of the deputy governor commended the initiative for reaching women who needed assistance, noting that the provision of food items and financial support could help ease some of the difficulties they encounter in caring for their loved ones.
Delivering a message on the theme, “Whatever You Do for Others, You Do for Christ,” Pastor Solomon Nathaniel urged participants to embrace compassion, generosity and service to humanity.
Nathaniel said helping vulnerable people was an important expression of Christian faith and encouraged individuals to extend kindness to those facing difficulties.
He urged participants to recognise the needs of others and contribute towards improving their welfare, regardless of the size of the assistance they could provide.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Pat Ajudua, commended the First Lady for sustaining the food bank initiative and extending support to women across the state.
Ajudua said programmes that directly address the needs of vulnerable women and their families were important in promoting social welfare and easing the challenges confronting households.
She described the initiative as a demonstration of concern for the well-being of women and commended the Office of the First Lady for continuing to implement interventions targeted at those in need.
A major highlight of the event was the symbolic presentation of food items to chairpersons representing the 25 local government areas of Delta State for distribution to the beneficiaries.
The arrangement brought together beneficiaries from across the state under a common intervention designed to provide support irrespective of their local government areas.
The event was attended by the Wife of the Deputy Governor, Ezinne Catherine Onyeme; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon. Pat Ajudua; Pastor Solomon Nathaniel; and other government officials and stakeholders.
The third edition of the Delta State Food Bank Initiative forms part of the social intervention activities of the Office of the First Lady, alongside programmes implemented through the You Matter Charity Foundation.
Through the initiative, the Office of the First Lady has continued to highlight the importance of practical assistance, community support and targeted interventions in addressing the needs of vulnerable women and strengthening family welfare across Delta State.