ibironkeeniola 
Moved to empower the disadvantaged as the COVID-19 lockdown continues globally, an agro-allied investor making egg powder in Ijebu-Ode has donated egg powder, noodles, tissue papers and other consumables to School for Children with Special Needs, Sagamu and SOS Children’s Village, an orphanage in Owu-Ijebu, all in Ogun State.
The farmer, Mr Samuel Sewoniku, who is the Operations Manager of Answer Industries Limited in Ijebu-Ode, said the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent lockdowns of cities and states across the country have brought untold hardship to resource-poor Nigerians. Hence, there is the need to reach out to as many people as possible.
Mr Sewoniku urged well-meaning Nigerians and other commercial farmers to, as a matter of urgency, assist the under-privileged Nigerians to avoid starvation, lawlessness and resort to crimes as the social investment interventions of the various governments could not go round.
He explained that the egg powder is nutritious, multipurpose and suitable for humanitarian reliefs in internally displaced camps, with a shelf life of over one year. Egg powder, he added, could be used in virtually all foods, and wholesomeness is not compromised even without cold chain storage, unlike raw eggs.
He urged the government at all levels to encourage production and consumption of locally made egg powder to create a value chain ecosystem that is capable of revolutionising egg production. Industrialisation of raw eggs, he added, would avoid wastage and cycles of glut often experienced by egg-producing farmers.
Included in the donated items were bottles of hand sanitiser, noodles and toiletries.
While receiving the materials at the School for Children with Special Needs, the Head Teacher, Mrs R.A. Olaniyan, said, “I hereby, on behalf of parents, staff and learners of the school, appreciate your love and generous donations to our learners.”
She said the management of school would make judicious use of the materials for the well-being of the learners, urging other well-to-do Nigerians to lend a helping hand to the learners.
At the SOS Children’s Village, the Supervisor, Mr Bashiru Mudashiru, who received the materials on behalf of the children, commended the company for reaching out in trying times like this, saying it was a demonstration of corporate social responsibility and wilful generosity.