By Doris Israel Ijeoma
Ahead of the new year, a London-based Blogger, Maureen Badejo, has collaborated with GIO TV foundation Partners to give back to the needy and less privileged in Ode Aye Community of Okitipupa Local Government Area in Ondo State.
Speaking with Starnews Nigeria in a telephone interview, Maureen, the CEO of GIO TV, said the target is to support the widows, the less privileged, and the elderly people in the community.
The blogger said her passion for assisting those in need stemmed from witnessing the challenges faced by people, especially at the hands of religious figures.
“I decided to go into charity because of what people are passing through most especially in the hands of religious Leaders who parade themselves as men of God”, she said.
Regarding her collaboration with GIO TV foundation Partners to support the less privileged, Maureen expressed a deep connection to her hometown and emphasized the importance of assisting her own community.
She said, “Ode Aye is my home town. Charity begins at home . I have a passion for my foundation, my people need assistance. I can’t continue to assist people online when my own people at home need more help than those seeking my assistance online”.
Comparing the charitable event organized in 2022 to the upcoming one in 2023, Maureen highlighted the huge expansion in scale and offerings.
“To God be the glory, this year event is larger than that of 2022. It’s going to be a big event. We are going to assist up to 1,000 residents of Ode Aye with food items. We will be distributing repackaged bags of rice, beans, garri, and cartons of noodles, including spaghetti, magi, and other food items. For the pupils, we are going to distribute school bags water bottles, and exercise books to support their resumption.
Maureen said there will be a change in venue from the traditional location to her father’s compound at Akinroye Street, before baba Osuma’s house, Zion, Ode Aye, Ondo State. According to her, December 30, 2023, is the day for the distribution of the food items.
She also mentioned plans to sponsor indigenes of the community to study Nursing abroad.
“We have plan to sponsor a minimum of two indigenes of Ode Aye abroad to study Nursing. We are going to open a care home for elderly people in lagos and motherless baby home in Ota, Ogun state come 2024. I feel the pain of our people, the level of hunger in the land is alarming. Our government should do more for our communities. We are also looking at how to train and empower the youth in different skills to reduce joblessness.
God will continue to enlarge our coast to assist more”, she added.
The blogger said she has also made provision for caterers to cook food for the people to eat and drink with entertainment by a DJ.
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