NGO distributes food items to over 100 at Ramadan in Ogun


A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Initiative of Women and Children of Hope, has distributed food items to aged, widows and less privileged in Ogun state.

The event was held at the Ijaiye Central Mosque, Ijaye Oja-Ale, Abeokuta where many Muslim faithful and non-Muslims from different parts of the state were present.

The CEO of the organization and the National Secretary of Federation of Muslim Women’s Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Dr. (Mrs) Monsurat Titilayo Musa-Olomu, while presenting the food items, maintained that the beneficiaries of the gesture were selected from different parts of the state.

Dr. Musa-Olomu called on other wealthy individuals to join hands in helping the less-privileged in the society, not only during the holy month of Ramadan but throughout the seasons.

She said ”We have been in existence since 2009 and we have done so many programs in the past, we are part of civil society organization working with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria registered with Oyo state and Ogun state.

“We are also in collaboration with an organization working on malnutrition, malaria, diabetes, tuberculosis etc. It is an NGO as earlier stated and non profit making organization which aims at seeing to the healthiness, peacefulness and well-being of the society.

”However, the core value of this organization is to ensure that women and children are at peace in the society, to answer to people’s curiosity about the organization being particularly about women and children’s well-being, according to the holy prophet Muhammad (pbuh) teachings, he stated that when women in the society are good, the society is healthy, and it also tends to have a negative impact on the society when the women aren’t in an healthy condition

“The name is coined from the fact that if women and children are properly cared for, then the whole family is at peace, More so, the core value.

“However, as stated earlier about the programs that occurred in the past pertaining to (malnutrition, malaria, diabetes, tuberculosis etc), in Oyo state, HIV/AIDS counseling was done and the testing kits, the LLIN, treated mosquito nets and other numerous items was distributed among members of the society.

“During COVID in 2001, supplement distribution was done at Lanfenwa in Sabo area, Ago-Ika area as well as certain areas such as Apata, Ojo etc in Oyo state.

”But today’s programme is on food supplement for the aged and widows to cushion the effect of Ramadan on them, it has been done occasionally in the past, but this is our first time coming out in masses for it, glory be to God.

“Some individuals provided helping hands, and people donated the token they have and ours were also added with the aim of providing food supplement for 50 women, but at the long run we exceeded the intended number of the food supplements

“We also plan to subsequently continue with the package during this month which we pray to the Almighty God to strengthen us and give us the opportunity to keep up with it.”

She called on the government to embrace the kind gesture, saying that it will help in many ways in putting smiles on the faces of the people.

“I want to implore the politicians’ such as counsellors, chairmans, house of assembly members to put in practice programs as this that will help to relieve the people of economic hardship, and also the rich among the family to come to the aid of their immediate family and other less privileged in the society, working hand in hand will enable us all in fostering economic growth and development’,” she concluded

The items donated by the group include rice, cooking oil, spaghetti, sugar and cash gifts to help them support their families especially in the month of Ramadan.

The event was attended by the Chief Imam of Ijaye, Dr Musbaudeen Musa-Olomu; the Secretary General of the Ogun State Muslim Council, Alhaji Kamaldeen Akintunde; a Chieftain of Nawair-ud-deen Society of Nigeria, Alhaja Mariam Atanda, amongst others was chaired by an Egba High Chief,Baaroyin of Egbaland, Alhaji Soliudeen Lai Labode.

In his sermon at the event,the guest lecturer of the day, Ustaz Isiaq Abolore Muhammadul Awwal submitted that the program is about sharing happiness, saying that Ramadan is a period to give and sacrifice.

He urged Muslims to increase acts of charity, and encourage group like Initiative of Women and Children of Hope by supporting them in order to do more for the less privileged.