Fuludu satisfied as IDP Uhogua gets VSF’s COVID-19 palliative

As part of their efforts in providing COVID-19 palliative to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable Nigerians, officials of the Victims Support Fund (VSF) extended their benevolence to some needy members of the society during a visit to Edo State.

The VSF team was led by chairperson of the VSF Task Force on COVID-19, Mrs. Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji and former Super Eagles star, Edema Fuludu, who is the national coordinator.

Though the VSF intends to visit other states in Nigeria, their visit to the IDPs Camp Uhogua was in response to a Save Our Soul (SOS) they recently received from Community Sport and Educational Development (CSED), which has former Super Eagles player Edema Fuludu as National Coordinator.

Officials of VSF, in the company of the wife of the Edo State Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki visited the IDPs Camp Uhogua, where they met briefly with some of the Management staff of the Camp. A few hours later, the children and adult residents of IDPs Camp Uhogua received the delivery of the food items that were donated by the Victims Support Fund (VSF). The VSF palliative was in the form of 200 bags set that contained 10kg of rice, 10kg of beans, 10kg of garri, 4kg of vegetable oil and two small packets of salt per bag.

While the Management of the IDPs Camp Uhogua were in the process of sharing the delivered palliative to the residents, some touched officials of VSF donated some extra bags of foodstuff to the amazement of the Management and residents of IDPs Camp Uhogua.

Responding to the gesture, the Coordinator of International Christian Centre (ICCM) and Coordinator of the Camp, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho said the visit by the Victims Support Fund came at a very critical time.

He said the lockdown caused by Covid-19 had impacted negatively on the welfare of the residents of the Camp.

On his part, the National Coordinator of CSED, Edema Fuludu stated that their work was mainly sport/educational intervention, but he cannot afford to walk on when the children/youths they work with are in dire needs of food and basic daily necessities.

“That was the reason we had to contact VSF and other organisation to seek for their assistance in complementing the good efforts of the Edo State government in meeting the needs of the residents of IDPs Uhogua,” Fuludu stated.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) has supported student-athletes across the country as part of the annual Children’s Day celebration amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The athletes drawn from the 36 states of the federation, including the FCT, Abuja, were presented with food items on behalf of NSSF by the state coordinators in their various homes.

Over 37 athletes, who have distinguished themselves in various sporting programmes organised by NSSF, benefited from the gesture.

According to the President of NSSF, Olabisi Joseph, the gesture is in line with what is happening across the globe with support given to athletes following the lockdown being experienced across the world over Coronavirus pandemic.

“We at NSSF celebrate our future leaders on this day earmarked to honour them. And for them not to feel the brunt of not marking the day in a large gathering with their colleagues, NSSF has decided to go to their various homes to deliver these gifts to them,” Joseph said.

She urged the students keep their heads high despite their inability to compete in the various programmes lined up by NSSF this year, adding that they should utilise the time for self-development and to follow the necessary guidelines put in place to avoid being infected by the virus.

“We value the health of our athletes and encourage them not to lose hope in themselves amidst the pandemic but to keep the faith, stay safe and active in their various homes following the laid down health measures to curtail the spread of coronavirus.

Some of the athletes and their parents who spoke during the presentation in their various homes lauded NSSF for the gesture, which they described as timely.