Hon. Babajimi Benson, representing Ikorodu federal constituency at the House of Reps, Abuja has disclosed that his wife, Mrs Jumoke Benson is the brain behind the much-celebrated humanitarian charity feeding programme tsagged, I-Care Food Bank project, sponsored by him.
Hon Benson made this revelation in his remarks at the first anniversary of the initiative held at his Ikorodu constituency office. I his words ‘let me tell all of you, perhaps for the first time today. The I-Care food bank is not my idea. It is my wife’s initiative. So, she should be commended for conceiving the humanitarian initiative.
Speaking further, he said, ‘On several occasions, when it is month-end and I look at my account and I don’t have much money to buy foodstuffs for the bank, it is my wife that will give me her personal money to be able to meet up. I plead with you all to please remember her in your prayers.
The I-Care food bank initiative, which started on October 2016 was meant to celebrate the annual global world food day. It has however become a monthly feeding programme for the less-privileged across the Ikorodu division.
Mrs Jumoke Benson, wife of the sponsor stated that the initiative is meant to fix the poverty issues in the society. According to her, ‘Whatever you think you can do, no matter how small you think it is, just try and do something for the less privileged. As soon as we can deal with their issues, things will definitely get better.
Also speaking at the event, Director-General of the JB-I Care movement, Mayor Deen Sanwoola announced an increase in the number of beneficiaries of the feeding programme from 300 to 500 monthly. He also announced the addition of I-Care loaf of bread to the monthly food package.
Reacting to allegations from certain quarters that the initiative was a form of ‘stomach infrsatructure’ Sanwoola said ‘Some people have been saying we should teach people how to fish instead of giving them fish to eat, the question is, are these elderly men and women the ones we need to teach how to fish?, he queried.
Sanwoola further stated that’ ‘Unfortunately, they are not asking the right question. They should have asked us what we are doing for the youth?. By tomorrow morning, we will be hosting a job fair in collaboration with the Lagos State ministry of wealth creation and we shall be creating networking opportunity between companies in need of staff and job applicants across Ikorodu division. With this, JB I-Care foundation will be providing employment opportunities for our unemployed youths, he submitted.
Hundreds of beneficiaries, party faithfuls, community stakeholders who witnessed the event commended Hon Jimi Benson and his wife for the initiative.
