A Nigerian philanthropist based in South Korea, Mr Mark Elechi, has distributed not fewer than 200 bags of rice to widows and people living with disabilities in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
During the presentation of the rice on Thursday in Afikpo, Elechi said that the gesture was to share the joy of Christmas and New Year with the vulnerable.
He said he was moved to remember the less privileged at Yuletide, saying that it was a season of giving and showing love and “I love giving back to the society’’.
“The distribution of these bags of rice is borne out of the need to express love to our people, particularly widows and the vulnerable people.
“It is my modest contribution to our immediate environment and a way of giving back to the society. After all, we rise by lifting others,” he said.
Elechi said that he planned to do more in future.
He added that in order to foster love, he also organised a football competition for girls of Ozizza community.
The philanthropist advised Nigerians not forget the essence of the season, urging people to show love to one another and put smiles on as many faces as possible.
“We do not need to own the world to be able to lend a helping hand,” he said.
The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the donor, saying that he has given them hope to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ like other families.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the distribution was done across the 12 wards of Afikpo North, with 17 beneficiaries in each ward.
