CSR : NIMASA donates relief materials to victims of disasters

• As Ekiti State Govt applauds NIMASA on kind gesture

(Report by Udeme Clement):

As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), has donated relief materials to victims of disasters in Ekiti State.

The Agency said that the initiative was part of its continuous efforts to alleviate the severe effect of natural, as well as man-made disasters to the people.

Speaking, the Director of Administration and Human Resources, NIMASA, Mrs. Ronke Thomas, who represented the Director General, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, explained that
the economic relief initiative was part of NIMASA’s CSR, and will be expanded to cover the 36 states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

According to her; “NIMASA is doing something that had not been done to this magnitude before. We are on a mission to help people in the face of daunting socio-economic circumstances, which often outstrips official planning of government, and needs extra-governmental intervention from organisations and well-meaning individuals in the country.

“Principally, our aim as organisation is to empathise with Nigerians going through difficult conditions at the moment. We also want to raise awareness about the conditions of less privileged citizens in the country. There is need for organisations and individuals to lend a helping hand to underprivileged ones.”

She added; “This programme is a strategic demonstration of NIMASA’s commitment to a better life for all Nigerians. We are here to strengthen the weak and encourage the discouraged. We want all to feel at home, especially those who have been physically displaced or emotionally affected by natural and man-made disasters.”

Mrs Thomas informed: “NIMASA has integrated support for less privileged and capacity building for citizens into a national CSR strategy, which is regularly implemented based on the resources available.

In his response, the Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, who received the packages in Ado-Ekiti, applauded NIMASA for the kind gesture.

He said that the humanitarian materials presented by the agency for people suffering severe economic conditions, especially Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), would help in stabilising the condition of the victims.

Speaking further, Otunba Egbeyemi, mentioned recent incidents in the State, which include flooding; communal clashes and fire disasters, resulting in displacement of some communities.

Egbeyemi, also acknowledged the efforts and pragmatic steps taken by the State government to assist the affected people.

He pointed out :
“The State government had intervened in some areas within its capacity but due to inadequate resources, there are still some affected victims, who have not been attended to.
This is why, the State government is finding this kind gesture worthy, because the provision of these items will go a long way to cushion the effect of these disasters on the victims.”

The things donated include; food items; household items; educational materials; support tools for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), to ameliorate the plight of the victims.
Others were computers, books, sewing machines, grinding machines, welding machines, hair clippers/barbing accessories, vulcanising machines, motorbikes, and tricycles.