By John Moses
The Dangote Foundation has donated 30,000 bags of rice, each weighing 10 kilograms, to the government of Oyo State, in a major effort to support vulnerable and indigent citizens amid persistent economic hardship in the region.
During the handover ceremony in Ibadan on Wednesday, the Foundation’s Head of Operations, Mr Victor Ejiro, said the donation was aimed at complementing existing social intervention programmes run by the state to alleviate poverty.
“This initiative is part of our broader commitment to supporting those most in need. We urge those overseeing the distribution to ensure the rice reaches only the truly vulnerable across all 33 local government areas in the state,” Ejiro stated.
The rice distribution programme, launched by the Dangote Foundation in 2024 with the goal of delivering one million bags annually, has continued into 2025 with similar momentum.
Professor Musibau Babatunde, Chairman of the Oyo State Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAfER) Programme, received the donation on behalf of the state. He described the initiative as a product of effective collaboration between the public and private sectors to improve livelihoods and reduce poverty.
“This partnership is vital. It ensures that critical support reaches socially disadvantaged groups — from the physically challenged and elderly to vulnerable families and orphanages,” Babatunde said.
The ceremony also featured a symbolic handover to select beneficiaries, some of whom expressed gratitude for the gesture. Among them were Mrs Olawumi Idowu and Mrs Victoria Olawale, both physically challenged, who thanked the foundation and the government for including them in the relief efforts.
Other beneficiaries, including elderly residents Mr Olapade Tajudeen and Mrs Omotayo Borode, said the food assistance would go a long way in easing their daily struggles.
