Foundation donates food, clothing to Kogi flood victims

Harvesters African Empowerment Foundation (HAEF), a humanitarian initiative by Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters International Christian Centre, has donated food items and clothing to over 1,250 people in Idozy village in Koton Karfe Local Council of Kogi State.

The North Central state, which hosts the confluence of two West Africa’s largest rivers, River Niger and River Benue, had about 10 of its 21 local councils submerged. The humanitarian crisis left many living in harsh conditions.

Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said the flood had a grave impact on 471,842 people with 16 deaths in the 514 communities affected.

“I have lived here for 40 years and I have never seen a flood like this. The water has washed away our farmlands and there is no food to harvest. After investing in seeds, labour, fertiliser and pesticides, I was hoping to harvest 200 bags of rice but I was only able to harvest three. It has been very tough and it was starting to look like we have been forgotten. I am grateful to HAEF for helping us in our time of need,” stated a rice farmer identified as Mr Musulumi, whose farm was swept away by the flood.

On the project’s impact, Lead Project Manager, HAEF, Dinyambe Nyatua, said: “The members of these communities are predominantly farmers, who have lost their means of livelihood. Some of these villages are not easily accessible, so they receive little to no relief. To bring smile to the faces of people whose lives have drastically changed overnight is a gift we never want to stop offering through this foundation.”

The project came in the wake of a recent outreach in the floating village of Makoko, Lagos, where  HAEF provided 150 life jackets and five paddle boats to assist students of Solution School, Makoko, who struggle to attend classes due to boat accidents and poor water transportation options.

As part of its efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger in Africa, HAEF is set to offer scholarships worth N15 million to over 100 African undergraduates in a few months.

The foundation aims to continue achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1, 2 and 4, but there remains a massive funding gap that it hopes to close through donations from its supporters worldwide.