NGO Provides Succour To Over 100 Indigent Families In Enugu Slum

An NGO, Ophel Community Impact Programme, has donated food and non-food materials to over 100 indigent families living in the slum area of the Obiagu community within the Enugu metropolis.

The items presented to the indigent families included: bags of rice, cartons of indomie, biscuits, candies as well as toiletries, clothing, inspirational books and primary and secondary schools textbooks.

Speaking to newsmen on Sunday while donating the items, Pastor Obinna Ebiem, National Director of the NGO, said that the gesture was part of the “Project Smile’’ of the NGO meant to bring succour to indigent families.

Ebiem said that the group was intervening in communities with extreme living conditions, adding that it was a way the NGO "is giving back to the society".

According to Ebiem, when we came to the Obiagu slum earlier this week, we were moved with compassion due to the harsh living conditions we found here.

“We are moved by compassion to intervene with everything we can lay our hands-on and we are happy today that we have put smiles once again in their faces,” he said.

The national director said that in December, the NGO’s project smiles visited National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu and put smiles on some indigent patients that could not pay their medical bills after feeding them.

“By the grace of God we will be moving to a slum in New Haven extension to provide for the people there; while our Ogun and Adamawa States outreach is being planned towards the end of the year,” he said.

He thanked all that have supported the Project Smile programme, especially members of Bethel City Church, Enugu, adding: “I urge Nigerians to contribute to the group’s quest to ameliorate poverty and lack in the society”.

One of the beneficiaries of the gesture, Mr Ike Anyaebulam, thanked the group for the food and clothing his family received.

“I am grateful for this gesture especially in this difficult time that feeding one’s family daily is extremely difficult,” Anyaebulam said.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Ifeoma Obele, appreciated the group for the food and non-food items given to her family.

“This is divine intervention, as I was already thinking how my family will feed this week before God from nowhere brought these items.

“I do not have anything to give in return but that God will surely bless the NGO and everybody that made these items possible,” Obele said.

The event also featured children of the area being administered free deworming medicine as well.