Relief materials worth over five million naira have been distributed to residents of Ugbenu in Awka North Local Government Area, Anambra State, courtesy of members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Anambra State Council.
The gesture, which is part of NUJ 2024 outreach programmes, is designed to assist poor rural dwellers who find it difficult to clothe themselves due to the economic hardship in the country.
Speaking at the event, NUJ Chairman, Dr Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, said it was the decision of the union under his watch to give succor to the less-privileged who face uncertainties and limited access to their basic needs.
He said the materials donated by practicing journalists in the state will go a long way to taking care of the people’s clothing needs, even in the face of the challenging society, as it would enable the beneficiaries channel their resources to tackling feeding and other private issues of concern.
“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 decide to give to people we are better than. If you monetize what we gave out today, it is worth over five million naira, ” Odogwu said.
Chairman of NUJ Outreach Committee, Dr Ebele Okonkwo, who said that the NUJ in Anambra gave out what will be beneficial to the the people, noted that the gesture would be replicated in other hard-to-reach communities in the state.
Reacting, the President General of Ugbenu Town Union, Mr. Samson Ojoh, who expressed appreciation to members of the NUJ for remembering his people, described the intervention as pure help to the poor, even as he called on members of the public to emulate what the NUJ has done.
Some of the beneficiaries, including Mrs Blessing Ugochukwu and Elizabeth Okoye, who expressed joy over what they received, said as things have become expensive in the market, NUJ has saved them from buying such materials they benefited.
Among the items distributed during the outreach programme were clothes, shoes, textbooks, bags and other items for farming, schooling, social as well as other economic activities.