A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Alpha Zeta Organisation (AZO) in collaboration with Bashir Olanrewaju Oshodi, has feted less privileged people in Lagos.
 
At the event held at Abebe field, Surulere, Lagos, over 1,000 food packs and other items were distributed to people with disabilities, families and citizens to empower them to live happy, balanced and productive lives.
   
The founder of the organisation, Dr Iyabo Masha said that Alpha Zeta is a charitable organisation with a mission to assist vulnerable members of the population through education, health, financial literacy and economic empowerment projects.
 
She noted that as an international organisation, the group’s first programme had focused on people with disabilities in Freetown Sierra Leone, where free wheelchairs were distributed to the disabled people as well as health projects.
  
Masha said the group, in Nigeria, collaborates and supports the Association for Childhood Education Practitioners managed by Haija Islamiat Olaitan Oshodi with different programmes, every year.
  
“In 2024, we gave pupils bag packs with books for children in poor communities who put the books on their heads to school, around September when school resumed.  

“We also organised International Children’s Day and we have financed some of their programs even outside the country in the past. 
  
“We have also assisted people with low incomes with down payments for tricycles to earn a livelihood and care for their families,” she added.
   
She appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to look around them to alleviate the plights of the less privileged through materials and financial support in these perilous times.
  
According to her, “There are many challenges in the country so anyone who has the financial means should assist but the best way is to empower people with proper means of living to provide for themselves and others. 
 
“In the future, we will be partnering with motherless babies homes where we will provide the funding and implement other things. We will also partner with other Philanthropists.”
  
In his remarks, the host, Bashir Olanrewaju Oshodi added that his organisation decided to partner with Alpha Zeta to feed the less privileged because it was in line with his organisation’s projects.
  
He stressed that beyond food packs and health programmes, his organisation in the last 20 years has donated books to the less privileged as part of its corporate social responsibility. 
 
“We believe in helping the less privileged citizens to enable them to add value to themselves, and others and stand tall among equals.
 
“We are also concerned about the well-being and longevity of citizens in Surulere and environs,” he added.
 
One of the beneficiaries, an elderly woman identified as Mama Bola, appreciated both organisations for the food packs.
 
The highlights of the event included a dancing competition of old fuji music by women and cash rewards.