The Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) donated more than N60 million worth of rice to the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the foundation donated 600 bags of 50kg long grain rice to DEPOWA.

This was after it had donated 1,200 bags of rice to POWA on Monday.

Vice-President of the foundation, Barr. Adaora Offor, said the donations, coming at the Christmas season was meant for distribution to families of deceased and seriously injured service personnel.

She noted that the gallant soldiers died serving their fatherland, while some got seriously injured in the line of duty.

“It is the Christmas season now and we all plan to spend quality time with our loved ones.

“For these soldiers, they don’t have time to spend and celebrate with their loved ones as they are all out there protecting us.

“There is no better time than now to show and share love and compassion with them for all the sacrifices they make to keep us safe,” she said.

She commended the wife of the Chief of Defence Staff and DEPOWA President, Barr. Victoria Irabor on the various welfare programmes she had initiated since assumption of office.

Offor pointed out that the various empowerment programmes designed to empower wives of armed forces and police personnel attracted the attention of the SEOF.

“May Victoria Irabor’s generosity of heart continue to put smiles on the faces of your members as I encourage them to give you support to actualise the aims and aspirations of DEPOWA.

“We are deeply encouraged by our shared relationship and values and we will strive to sustain them in the New Year,” she said.

In his remarks, Chief of Staff to the President of SEOF, retired AIG Chris Ezike, said the gesture was based on the foundation’s core value which centres on health, human services, educational development and social interventions.

Ezike noted that the foundation catered to thousands of widows to empower them and to alleviate their problems.

“SEOF as a non-governmental, non-profit organisation operates on a tripod as our core values.

“We are engaged in activities revolving around health and human services, education and educational development and empowerment and social interventions.

“These activities are aimed at mitigating the challenges of poverty and creating life improving opportunities for the marginalised and vulnerable groups in the society,” he said.

He added that the foundation would begin the commissioning and handing over of houses built for widows and for the downtrodden in the society in 2023.

Receiving the donations, Mrs Irabor thanked Sir Emeka Foundation for its constant support for the military.

“You have come here today to express love, support and encouragement to the military community.

“Your foundation is one of the few foundations in Nigeria that recognise the efforts of the military in keeping the country safe and secure for us.

“You recognise what these men in uniform do and the fact that so many of them have paid the supreme price, leaving families behind to be catered for by the entire nation,” she noted.

She noted also that the SEOF was one of the few foundations that understood the challenges in the military community, adding that the gifts would be judiciously distributed to widows of deceased soldiers.

“We receive these gifts meant for both families of wounded and deceased soldiers wholeheartedly with gratitude to your foundation.

“We assure you that these bags of rice will be judiciously distributed to those that need them.

“On behalf of the military community, wives of all military officers and soldiers we once again say a very big thank you.

“It is our prayer that God continues to strengthen your foundation and endow you with the wherewithal to keep on doing the good work you are doing in Nigeria and globally.

“Thank you for the other projects you are involved in such as the eradication of polio, the empowerment of tertiary institutions and widows as well as the `touching lives’ housing project.

“Thank you for all you do and for what you have done for the military community today,” Irabor said. (NAN)