Thousands of households across the Osun Central Senatorial District received festive relief on Tuesday as Femi Oyetola, son of the former Governor of Osun State, distributed Christmas food boxes to beneficiaries in Osogbo, the state capital.
The beneficiaries mainly the aged, widows, physically challenged persons, and residents of faith-based orphanage homes were carefully selected from the 10 local government areas in Osun Central.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, the donor, Femi Oyetola, who was represented by Mr. Kehinde Ayantunji, former Senior Special Assistant to Governor Oyetola on Students’ Affairs and Social Mobilisation, said the initiative marked the third edition of his annual humanitarian outreach, carried out through the Ilerioluwa Development Initiative.
According to him, “Today, Femi Oyetola, in collaboration with the Ilerioluwa Development Initiative, is distributing food boxes to 5,000 households across the Osun Central Senatorial District. Our focus is on the most vulnerable, widows, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, and orphanage homes. As we flag off the exercise here in Osogbo, trucks are already conveying food boxes to other local governments.”
He explained that the outreach is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which prioritise inclusive growth, social welfare, and support for vulnerable Nigerians.
“This is the third edition of the initiative. Two years ago, cows were donated to all local governments to support youth carnivals, while last year, cash gifts were distributed to 10,000 youths across the state. The goal is to spread joy, ease hardship, and ensure that no household is left behind during the festive season,” he added.
Ayantunji further disclosed that the gesture would be extended to party youth structures, with bags of rice earmarked for distribution to youth leaders across the state.
In their goodwill messages, the representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Mr. Samson Opadotun, expressed appreciation for the gesture and offered prayers for God’s continued blessings upon the donor.
Also speaking, representatives of the widows, Mrs. Alice Olanrewaju, and persons living with disabilities, Mr. Wale Lukman, commended the initiative and assured that the food items would be properly distributed to the intended beneficiaries.
Dignitaries present at the flag-off ceremony included the APC State Youth Leader, Goke Akinwemimo; local government chairmen; Maaroof Ogundipe (Obokun), Saheed Onibon Okuta (Osogbo), J.K. Oloyede (Irepodun North), and Kola Salaam (Ede South) among other party leaders and stakeholders.
