Answer Industries Limited, Nigeria’s sole egg powder manufacturer has donated some of its products, noodles, tissue papers, and other essential household items to children with special needs and orphanages.
According to the organisation, the donation was made in a bid to alleviate the sufferings of the physically challenged and socially displaced people in Ogun State amid the coronavirus lockdown.
Samuel Sewoniku, operations manager of Answer Industries Limited in Ijebu-Ode, said the novel 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.
Sewoniku urged well-meaning Nigerians and other agro-allied industries 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 cannot adequately 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 in the country.
Industrialisation of raw eggs, he added, would avoid wastage and cycles of glut often experienced by egg-producing farmers, he says.
Other items included in the donations were bottles of hand sanitiser, noodles, and toiletries.
While receiving the materials at the School for Children with Special Needs, R.A. Olaniyan, headteacher, 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 children, urging other well-to-do Nigerians to lend a helping hand to the children as well.
Also, Bashiru Mudashiru, supervisor, SOS Children’s Village, 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.
Josephine Okojie
