The Aliko Dangote Foundation on Saturday donated and distributed 30,000 bags of 50kg rice to support vulnerable residents in Niger.

The Group Managing Director, Dangote Group, Abuja, Ahmed Hashim, said that the donation was part of the foundation’s efforts to alleviate hunger and poverty among vulnerable Nigerians in the state.

 He said, “We are committed to supporting the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce poverty and hunger in Nigeria. Our donation of rice to Niger State is a demonstration of our commitment to support what the state government is already doing.’’ 

Mr Hashim said that the foundation’s intervention was to provide succour to the most vulnerable members of society, including widows, orphans, and the disabled.

The Deputy Governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba, said at the distribution of the rice in Minna that the gesture would alleviate hunger and poverty in the state.

He stated, “We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Aliko Dangote Foundation for this gesture. Poverty and hunger are multi-dimensional problems that require collective efforts to tackle. The state government is working tirelessly to eliminate poverty and hunger in the state.’’

Mr Garba reiterated the state’s ambitious plan to feed the nation, citing the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) code-named Niger Foods, which had transformed the state into a net exporter of assorted grains.

He announced that the state government had distributed 400 trucks of assorted grains to the 25 local government areas at a subsidised rate of 50 per cent since the commencement of the Ramadan.

He called on well-to-do individuals and large-scale retail marketers to emulate Aliko Dangote’s philanthropy by supporting the weak and downtrodden through charity or subsidised food sales.

(NAN)