- Grassroots
By Olawale Alabi
Ibadan, June 6, 2024 (NAN) A UK-based businessman, Olatunji Awodiran, on Thursday in Ibadan urged governments in the country to reach out more to those at the grassroots to enhance agriculture in particular.
Awodiran, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Leovest Reassuring Hands Foundation, said governments needed to reach out to the right people to eradicate poverty and enhance positive development.
“Governments at all levels in the country have to reach out to those at the grassroots in order to get things done appropriately.
“We need to get to the right people, especially in the area of agriculture where we have so many indigents, the rural women and other poor people.
“They are those who are really involved in agriculture, not the big-time mechanised farmers,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Awodiran said governments should do this through Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) because they are closer to the people than government officials or politicians.
“In the UK, government at all the levels supports the local farmers in the communities more than the big farmers. This way, you get to uplift them and eradicate poverty,” he said.
Awodiran, whose foundation had since August been providing support in the form of food items, cash and educational materials to indigents and the aged, said he was ready to do more.
“It is something I am inspired to do, not as a result of political interest or affiliation or future gains, but to help cushion the effect of the hardship people are facing.
“People are really facing a lot of hardship, and we should help to bring about a change in their situation,” he stated.
Awodiran said his foundation planned to give out some food items ahead of the upcoming Eid-el Kabir festivities.
“Our programme is usually on the last Tuesday of the month, but it will come up earlier this month as a result of the Ileya festivities, by June 14,” he said.
NAN reports that the foundation, which started with 150 beneficiaries in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun, now has over 800 registered beneficiaries. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
OLAL/MAS
Edited by Moses Solanke
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