USEN (OVIA SOUTHWEST) In its bid to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus disease otherwise known as ‘COVID-19’, a Benin City-based non-profit charitable organization, JoyGrace International Outreach (JGIO), on Monday August 24, 2020, embarked on an aggressive distribution of personal hygiene materials to residents of Usen Town in Ovia South-west Local Government Area of Edo State.
JoyGrace International Outreach was founded and incorporated by Mr Ighodaro Faith Ekoma, a businessman and philanthropist, with a mission to impact positively on the lives of orphans, less privileged, and their caregivers in the society.
Items distributed amongst pregnant women, aging residents, breastfeeding women, widows/widowers and youths of the community by the NGO include Hand Sanitizers, Face masks, Liquid Soap, and Buckets.
Speaking to The Nigerian OBSERVER, unbehalf of the Chief Executive Manager, Mr Ighodaro Ekoma, during the distribution exercise at Usen, the Executive Director of JoyGrace International, Ann Oghobaghase, said that JoyGrace International Outreach as an organisation, is committed to the welfare and upliftment of humanity, particularly the vulnerables in the society.
She disclosed that the NGO is poised to reaching out to the vulnerables, destitutes in Nigeria in order to give meaning to their lives and assured them of success in their human endeavours.
She added that the group is passionate about health of the people and Joy grace Organisation decided to distribute the materials in rural areas owing to the non accessibility of some of the personal hygiene products to the people.
“We thought it wise that in this COVID-19 pandemic, people in the urban have access to these personal preventive materials whereas we have our brothers and sisters who may not have access to some of these materials in the rural areas, hence, our choice of Usen”, Ann stated.
“Our resolve is to join Federal and State Governments as stakeholder in ensuring that coronavirus is adequately checked from spreading continuous in Nigeria”,
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with The Nigerian OBSERVER in their separate reactions commended Joygrace international outreach for the philanthropic gestures, saying that it was first of its kind since the outbreak of the pandemic.
According to Hon. Ihama Monday: “The COVID-19 palliatives measures and awareness campaign of JoyGrace International Outreach to we the people of Usen Town is a laudable development.
“We want to thank and appreciate the NGO for identifying and supporting us through its free distributions of personal hygiene materials to our people, especially when considered how the viral disease has ravaged the world”.
On her part, Mrs. Christiana Oronsaye, while thanking JoyGrace International for coming to their aids disclosed that most of the people find it difficult to get the materials before the coming of the NGO, and called on other NGOs in the state to emulate the gesture of Joygrace International Outreach.
Others, however, showered encomiums on the management of the NGO, just as they assured of proper usage of the items as well as adhering strictly to the NCDC COVID-19 regulations.
Attention later shifted to the Palace of the Elawure of Usen, HRH Oluogbe II who was also given personal preventive materials by the Management of the NGO.
Receiving the staff of Joygrace Int Outreach and her entourage, the Elawure of Usen, commended the group for the distribution and COVID-19 awareness in the area, just as he gave his Royal blessings to the group.
