Date: 2016-06-13

Food items worth millions of Naira have been distributed to the less privileged and staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Local Government workers who have not been paid for several months across Kwara state by the Ilorin Emirate Youth Development Association, IEYDA, as part of the supports during the ongoing Ramadan fasting.

While distributing the food items at its Corporate Headquarters in Ilorin, the group stated that the month of Ramadan is a period of charity which is mostly encouraged by the Holy Prophet Muhammad and highly rewarding by the Almighty Allah.

The IEYDA President and Public Relation Officer, Alhaji Abdullahi Babatunde Salaudeen and Alhaji Mohammad Uthman Jagunmo respectively said the association has decided to identify the extremely poor and the needy across five local government areas namely; Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, Asa and Moro as beneficiaries.

Among items distributed are; rice, beans, semo, maize flour, corn, yam flour, sugar, as well as other material gotten from various donors in their various capacities to assist the Muslim faithful during the Holy Month of Ramadan to ease their pain respectively in their speech, appreciated the donors and enjoined other well meaning Nigerians who wish to be part of this spiritually rewarding act to contact the association before the end of Ramadan as there are more people to be covered in the gesture.

The association also called on both the State and the Federal Governments to intensify efforts on programmes that will improve the lives of the poor masses by providing enabling environment for small and medium scale Enterprises, creation of job opportunities.

The association frowned at the nonpayment of SUBEB teachers', Local Government workers', some parastatals' and pensioners' salaries which they admitted was as a result of the drop in the monthly allocation from the Federal Government. They therefore urged government at all levels to look inward beyond the oil money and diversify the economy, making agriculture attractive to the teeming youths.

Some of the beneficiaries from Ejidongari, Otte, Omoda, Isale-Maliki, Okelele, in their different reactions, appreciated the IEYDA and prayed to Almighty Allah to reward the donors who have decided to wipe their tears in this trying times.

IEYDA called on interested donors and other philanthropists who wish to be part of this programme, to please contact the association as there are still thousands who can't afford the Sahur and Iftar conveniently. May Almighty Allah's Rahama be with everyone who have contributed.