Being the text of speech delivered by Mrs Jumoke Benson at the launch of #iCareFoodBank (Aapo Anu) to mark 2016 World Food Day in Ikorodu, Lagos-Nigeria
Protocols,
World Food Day is a day to mark the creation of the ‘Food and Agriculture’ Organization of the United Nations (FAO) which was established on the 16th of October, 1945. It is a day set aside all over the world to raise awareness of poverty and hunger. Every year a different theme is adopted and this year 2016, the theme is “CLIMATE CHANGE – CLIMATE IS CHANGING, FOOD AND AGRICULTURE MUST TOO”
Hon. Babajimi Benson my husband, and myself through his iCare Foundation are celebrating this day in Ikorodu Federal Constituency by opening a Food Bank as promised to you all during his ‘One year in office’ celebration 4 months ago. The Food Bank would cater to the Elderly, the Widows, the Needy and the Vulnerable in our Community.
The Food Bags have been branded as “Aapo Anu” and the first set would be given to approximately 300 people today. Each bag can help feed a family for some time. This is a continuous program that we hope will touch the lives of many people in our community. We have strived to achieve a good balance of all the food groups that provide nutritional value for our bodies whilst ensuring that none of the items in the bag are perishable items.
Recent statistics show that 60% of the hungry in the world are women and almost 5 million children under the age of 5 die of malnutrition-related causes every year. This food bank is therefore very dear to my heart because women; mothers like you and I are the ones that are most affected. I would like to appeal to all women here today to embrace this initiative; let us work together and rally round in order to make it a success, understanding that this will be one of our main project as women in Ikorodu division.
In keying into UN goals of ending world hunger by 2030, our long term vision with this bold initiative is to make sure that no household in Ikorodu Federal Constituency is without food.
We are relying on you all to help fight hunger in your various ways. Please also ensure that the people you nominate are those who are truly in need; those who without this bag will go hungry and will have little or no options.
Mrs Jumoke Benson
