The Savingcross Justicepoint Foundation, a Non Governmental Organisation(NGO), in collaboration with the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG), Jesus Compass Parish, Ibadan, on Friday distributed food items, clothes and other materials to indigents in Ibadan.
The Executive Director/Founder of the group, Mrs Oluwaseun Folajuwon-Banjo, said that the aim of the initiative was to bring miracles of hope to the people of Molete during Christmas.
While speaking during the distribution of the items at the 4th edition of the NGO’s Christmas giveaway outreach, Folajuwon-Banjo, said that the edition was tagged: “Christmas Miracles”.
“This initiative is conceived to assist indigents that do not have food, clothings and other materials to cater for themselves particularly during christmas celebration, ” she said.
Folajuwon-Banjo, a Legal Practitioner, noted that lack of foods and other basic needs had made many indigents victims of abuses, victimisation and all forms of unpalatable experience like rape and other crimes.
She said: “When someone has food to eat and clothes to wear, it reduces exposure to abuse, violence and all forms of unjust behaviours.
“Too much vulnerability could lead to a situation whereby a stranger will take advantage of an innocent person.
“In the spirit of the season, we package foods, clothings, shoes and other household items so as to relieve them of the tension of what they will wear or eat during Christmas.”
According to her, the group is also offering free medical services to the people in the community so that they will be medically fit during and after the Christmas season.
She added that as part of activities for the year 2023 Christmas Miracles community outreach, the NGO was equally offering free legal advice and free skills acquisition to the people.
Folajuwon-Banjo said that the group was also empowering small and medium enterprises(SMEs) that could make the indigents generate small income to support their families.
She recounted that the first two editions of the programme were held at RCCG, Jesus Compass Parish, Aleshinloye in Ibadan before it was moved to other communities to reach out to people in need at the grassroots.
Folajuwon-Banjo said that the Molete community in Ibadan was carefully selected to benefit from the year 2023 edition,”so as to make christmas celebration a memorable one for the people in the area and neighbouring environs.
Speaking also, Ayodotun Folajuwon-Banjo, a legal practitioner and a member of the NGO, said that the initiative was set up to share the joy of Christmas with indigents.
This, he said,would make everyone irrespective of social class, age or religion feel the joy and excitement of Christmas without discrimination.
Commenting, Pastor Soji Adetoba of the RCCG, Jesus Compass, Aleshinloye, Ibadan, said: “God loves cheerful giver and would always ensure that the givers hands remain at the top.
Adetoba noted that the government and church alone could not meet up with the needs of the people.
He enjoined well-meaning Nigerians to be more committed to helping people in the spirit of Christmas.
The Cleric said that RCCG in conjunction with the NGO would be more committed to do more in meeting the needs of the people and would soon come back to the community for another gesture.
“The most acceptable service unto God, our father, is to care for the indigents in need,”Adetoba said.
Receiving the food items, Mrs Anuoluwapo Ola, lauded the gesture of the foundation for its humanitarian service to the people.
Ola said: “We really appreciate what the Savingcross Justicepoint Foundation is doing for indigents people in the society.
“This is what is expected from the well-to-do people in the society; we give glory unto God and we pray that people will continue to help the less privileged like what this foundation did today.”
Another beneficiary, Mrs Ibironke Adeleke, called on the three tiers of government to take a cue from what the foundation was doing to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
Adeleke said that indigents people in the society were facing many challenges ranging from abuses to hunger.
“We thank God for what this foundation is doing to people that are hopeless; we pray that their works will continue to rise and will never come down,” she said.
The event also featured enlightenment session on persons right and duties under the law by Bar. Tobi Fatoki and sensitisation lecture on tips to maintain a healthy lifestyle by Ms Mary Daramola.
