Customs partners Oko Opo Foundation to Celebrate Ramadan for widows, others
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has donated 30 bags of 50 kg rice to a non-profit organisation, Oko Opo Foundation, in support of the foundation’s commitment to lifting the widows, children and downtrodden members of society.
The rice donation by the Nigeria Customs was a fulfillment of the pledge by the agency last month during a peace parley between the promoter of Okó Opó Foundation, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo, to support the foundation’s agenda for the widows in recognition of his magnanimity towards a trigger-happy NCS operative, who recently shot at his vehicle.
Adeyemo, a UN(POLAC) Ambassador, real estate entrepreneur and Chief Executive Officer of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited had during the peace engagement meeting with the senior Customs officials whole heartedly forgave the erring officer and declined compensation as earlier filled by his legal counsel.
He asked the erring operative “to go and sin no more,” even as he also pleaded with the NCS and its leadership to give the officer a “second chance” and “not relieve him of his job” over the alleged professional misconduct.
NCS made the donation on Wednesday , at the organisation’s corporate office, at Laderin, Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
Delivering the bags of rice on Wednesday, the NCS represented by Mr Olabode Akinola (Assistant Customs Comptroller), Ismaheel Alarape (NCS Superintendent Officer) and Kaffu Samuel (Deputy Superintendent Customs, Lagos said the donation is in furtherance of the agency's mantra of supporting notable, non-profit organisation, in a bid to alleviate the suffering of the needy in the society, in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
The anti-smuggling agency explained that the gesture was done with the aim of lifting widows and less privileged, especially during this Holy month of Ramadan, a season characterized by fasting and prayers by muslim faithfuls.
The Customs leadership however reaffirmed it unflinching support to the Oko Opo widows Foundation and also to all well meaning, not for profit and Humanitarian organisations with a clear vision and purpose.
Responding, the Chief Promoter, OkoOpo widows Foundation, Dr. Babatunde Adeyemo said, the donation from the Nigerian Customs service to the Foundation is another victory to the widows in Nigeria, the Anti Corruption Ambassador said, that the donated commodity will be shared with an additional cash token for the widows, to celebrate the exit of the holy month of Ramadan.
Recall that the foundation had in a similar situation on December 26, 2024, lifted over 150 widows from a dozen of Ogun communities with cash, food items and medications for those having ailments to make the last yuletide a memorable one for them.
