If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one
— Mother Teresa
Food is critical to human survival. It provides nourishment and fosters sound health in those who have access to it. On the other hand, it causes malnutrition, hunger, diseases and even death for those unfortunate to suffer from lack of it. It was for reasons of bringing succour to the most vulnerable in the society, who may not have access to food for one reason or the other that the Osun State Government, under Governor Gboyega Oyetola, initiated the Osun Food Support Scheme in March 2021.
Over a year after the flag-off of the food scheme code-named, Ounje Ileri, in April 2021, three hundred and sixty thousand direct beneficiaries and over a million indirect beneficiaries had received food packages ranging from rice, wheat, semovita and garri. The choice of foodstuff to be distributed every month is determined by an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee though the free food distribution project itself is executed by the Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties.
When the scheme took off last year, skeptics expressed the negative view that with the parlous state of Osun State economy, the project would not go beyond a month of two. However, the scheme has entered its second year with a promise by the governor that rather than halting it, his administration would go further to expand it in order to ensure many more have-nots benefit from the project.
The Osun State Food Support Scheme is a technical project executed with phenomenal planning, energy, focus and uncommon commitment by the Staff of the Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties with a Professional Engineer, Hon. Lekan Badmus, as Commissioner as directed by Oyetola. The intention is devoid of politics but rather as a consequence of the paternal role expected of any caring and loving Government.
There is no discrimination in the selection of beneficiaries of the food scheme. It does not matter which political party, age, sex or religion one belongs to. The only eligibility parameter is poverty and lack. Distribution points cover all the 30 local government areas, the area office, local government development areas and indeed the 332 catchment areas in the state. Nine ministries, all the local governments and community bodies serve as a three-layer steering committee to supervise and ensure the food get to the appropriate and envisaged destinations While influential organisations like the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Muslim Community, People Living with Disabilities, Youth Organisations as well as market women and market men associations are fully involved in the implementation of the food scheme, particularly at the local government level. The involvement of these bodies has in no small measure contributed to its success in the past one year.
The mathematics of the success of the scheme is easy to comprehend. An average of thirty thousand bags of five kilos of staple food like rice, semovita, garri and wheat are distributed every month with one of the food items selected for distribution each month. Shelf-life of the food determines the selection. In twelve months, three hundred and sixty thousand beneficiaries have partaken in accessing the scheme. Each of the beneficiaries tends to have at least two family members, add this together and what you get is remarkable. Over a million mouths fed so far, several millions more to benefit as the scheme continues. The thirty thousand bags of foodstuff is different from several other thousands distributed at major markets in the various towns. Under the sub-scheme tagged “Market Penetration,” the Commissioner, Hon. Lekan Badmus, the SSA of Special Duties, Hon. Samson Owoyokun and other staff of the ministry led the team to densely populated parts of selected towns to ensure that the largesse gets to the roots of the grass. Amazingly the people have come to accept the project and look forward to it every month with relish, high expectation and excitement.
Governor Oyetola has left no one in doubt that in his veins runs the milk of human kindness, one of Mother Teresa’s fervent prayers to God goes thus “Make us worthy Lord to serve our fellow man throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them through our hands this day their daily bread and by our understanding love, give peace and joy”. Indeed, Mr. Governor’s campaign slogan “Ileri Oluwa” that is God’s promise in the lives of the beneficiaries of the Osun Food Support Scheme is fulfilled.
- Oyesiku Adelu is the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Regional Integration and Special Duties, Osun State
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: [email protected]
