As job losses caused by the Covid-induced economic downturn bite harder, Rotary International District 9141 said it has so far fed 10 million mouths in its four coverage states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Edo.
The District Governor, Virginia Major, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Monday, said the rampant loss of jobs across the country had affected inflow into the district’s foundation fund from where money is drawn to execute projects.
Major, speaking at a pre-conference media lunch, said many chief executive officers (CEOs) in the world and Nigeria have also lost their jobs because their firms have shut down. The massive loss of jobs has in turn led to many hungry mouths everywhere. As such, the 112 clubs under the district have carried on the task of feeding many more families and mouths, she said.
The district governor, who is a pharmacist by profession, explained that the district leadership converted the funds meant for social functions and the inauguration event to feed the poor. Rotary International also gave funds to the district while individuals contributed steadily to help feed more mouths. Food packs containing rice, beans, tomato, etc were handed to families and individuals, she said.
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During her tenure also, Rotary provided water to many rural communities to reduce disease outbreaks, provided amenities at health centres to enable pregnant women put to bed under fairly conducive environments, and provided mobile testing centres at designated hospitals in the four catchment states.
Major, supported by the immediate past district governor, Nze Anizor, also stated that attention must be focused on helping companies and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to survive Covid-induced economic suffering.
To this end, the 4th annual conference of the district is dedicated to the economy up to 2050, especially the role of the SMEs. About two governors, the national president of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), and Amina Mohammed of the United Nations are billed to address the participants in a conference aimed at helping the helpers (Rotary members).
The four-day conference would be highlighted by an SME Roundtable where experts, including Jekwu Ozoemene (PhD), would discuss the options before SME operators in the Niger Delta with an eye on sources of funding. Heads of most finance institutions are billed to be present so SMEs and other Rotarians can gain access to their services, according to Ibim Semenitari, who moderated the press lunch.
