Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Anambra State Council, has distributed relief materials worth over N5 million to residents of Ugbenu in Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State.
The gesture, according to NUJ, is part of the Union’s 2024 Outreach to Ugbenu Awka North and other communities to help poor rural dwellers who find it challenging to clothe themselves due to the economic hardship in the country.
Ikengaonline reports that among the materials distributed were clothes, shoes, textbooks, bags, and other items for farming, schooling, social as well as other economic activities.
Speaking at the event, NUJ Anambra State Chairman, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, said it was the decision of NUJ under his watch to give succor to the less-privileged who face uncertainty and limited access to their basic needs.
Odogwu said the materials donated by practicing journalists in the state would go a long way to cater for the people’s clothing so they can look good even in the face of the challenging society.
He also said it would enable them to channel their resources to tackling feeding and other private issues of concern.
He said: “NUJ decided to help the poor in rural areas because the economic condition of the country has worsened. We came with clothes, bags, shoes, and other materials that will be useful to the people because we know that they now find it difficult to buy these things in the market.”
“Our mission is for the society to progress. We thought it wise to do good from home. It is not all the time that we ask to be given. Today, we decided to give to people we are better than. If you monetize what we gave out today, it is worth over five million naira.”
Contributing, Chairman of NUJ Anambra State Council 2024 Outreach Committee, Dr Ebele Okonkwo, said NUJ Anambra gave out what would be beneficial to the the people.
She also noted that the gesture would be replicated in other hard-to-reach communities in the state.
Reacting, the President General of Ugbenu Town Union, Hon Samson Ojoh, expressed deep appreciation to NUJ for remembering his people, describing the intervention as pure help to the poor.
The PG called on members of the public to emulate what the NUJ has done for his people and explained that help must not always come during Christmas seasons but also during farming and other important periods to help people survive to the end of the year.
In their separate interviews, Mrs Blessing Ugochukwu and Elizabeth Okoye expressed joy at what they received. They said as things have become expensive in the market, NUJ has saved them from buying such materials they benefited from.
