CEDI Launches Emergency Support for COVID-19 Project
ABUJA – On Friday, September 18, 2020, Community Excellence and Development Initiative (CEDI), a non-governmental organisation committed to empowering lives and building sustainable communities complements the government’s effort to give support to Nigerians who need help, especially in this time of the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the impacts.
As part of the Emergency Support for COVID-19 Project, with contribution from CEDI and donations of N107, 794 (one hundred and seven thousand, seven hundred and ninety four naira) from CEDI’s friends and partners in Australia, United Kingdom and U.S.A; CEDI held an empowerment workshop in Agwantivi community, Lugbe by raising awareness on the COVID-19 pandemic and providing face masks, efficient cookstoves, briquettes and foodstuffs (rice, beans, garri, spagetti, maggi, groundnut oil, tomatoes etc) to 80 most vulnerable households to ameliorate the impact of the pandemic and reduce its spread.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to the death of individuals in many countries including Nigeria. About 40 percent of the Nigerians (or 82 million people) live below the country’s poverty line about of N137,430 (US$381.75) per year to support not just an individual but a family. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened this Nigeria’s precarious situation. The UN Development Programme estimates that about half of all the jobs in Africa will be lost to the pandemic and Nigeria is not left out.
The weight of these realities was apparent as country was on a partial shutdown in a bid to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The shutdown has negatively impacted on many of Nigeria’s daily wage workers especially women who do not have much financial savings or those in villages/communities who live in abject poverty and cannot meet their most basic needs. The 80 beneficiaries comprising men and women, widows and aged thanked CEDI for the support and described it as ‘life-saving”.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Sarah Blessing, thanked CEDI for coming to the aid of the community stating that the good gesture is very timely. Another beneficiary Mrs. Monica Okereke expressed a great appreciation for the relief items and prays that God takes CEDI to greater heights.
CEDI cannot be silent in this trying time in the country and the world at large. CEDI plans to reach at least 500,000 vulnerable Nigerians with information on COVID-19 and provide relief materials especially efficient cookstoves and foodstuffs to promote clean environment and reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 pandemic even beyond 2020.
CEDI calls on concerned individuals and institutions to lend a helping hand to those in need to make the world a better place even after the pandemic.
For more information
Please contact Betty Essien, Project Officer, Health and Education, Community Excellence and Development Initiative (CEDI)