Covid-19: Over 5,000 families smile home as Niger diocese distributes #30M palliative
It was all joy for over 5,000 families from Idemili North, Idemili South, Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Oyi and Dunukofia Local Government Areas of Anambra State Tuesday when the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion, distributed palliatives worth over N30 Million to them.
Presenting the items including thousands of bags of rice, beans, tubers of yam, cartons of noodles, cartons of beverages and cartons of milk, to the Archdeacons and Priests in charge of the churches, the Bishop, Diocese on the Niger, Rt. Rev. Owen Nwokolo, PhD thanked all the donors from the Diocese for responding to the call to donate for the people who were finding it difficult to survive during the ongoing lockdown.
The Bishop on the Niger prayed God to intervene in the families of those afflicted by the virus and give succour to those suffering hunger and deprivation because of COVID-19 pandemic.
Bishop Nwokolo said: “The Diocese on it’s part made substantial monetary contribution for the items to be purchased for distribution to the people.
“We are here to respond to the call by our people who are not finding things easy this period of lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The items being distributed to over 5,000 homes are thousands of bags of rice, beans, tubers of yams, cartons of milk, beverages, noodles , onions and other food items.
“We want to touch homes because of the lockdown hitting badly on the people. We also want to use this opportunity to ask our members to donate more for distribution to the people.
Bishop Nwokolo disclosed that it would be easy to distribute the items to the people through the parishes and Archdeaconries who had already compiled the list of the beneficiaries.
“While we observe the lockdown, we urge the people to stay at home, maintain all the directives of the government to avoid being infected by the pandemic virus.
“We are equally praying because prayers are important especially now the pandemic seems to have surpassed all human understanding.”
Bishop Nwokolo appealed to the state government to ensure that the palliatives they are sending out gets to the people it was meant for, even as he appealed to the wealthy in the society to rise to the challenge by remembering the poor and deprived among them.
In her remarks , the Wife of the Bishop on the Niger, Dr, Mrs Elsie Nwokolo a Pharmacist called on families particularly, mothers to use the opportunity of lockdown and stay-at-home, to build better understanding, love, peace and unity in their homes.
Dr Mrs Nwokolo who is also the President, Mothers Union, Women’s Guild and Girls Guild, Diocese on the Niger added that mothers should pray for their families and teach their children the word of God and how to maintain simple hygiene.
She employed mothers to tell their children Bible stories by reading and praying together since a praying family stays together, adding that the COVID- 19 era is not for compliants but for praying and praising God.
In his vote of thanks , the Archdeacon, Onitsha Archdeaconry and most senior Archdeacon in the diocese, Ven Obi Ubaka on behalf of other Archdeacons said they were elated that Bishop Nwokolo spared a huge taught on those ravaged by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Odogwu Emeka Odogwu Reports
