– Calls for More Support for the Poor and the Needy
The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Dr. Alfred Adewale Martins has called on well-meaning individuals and organizations across the country to reflect on how they can transform lives by sharing their resources in aid of the less privileged in the society.
He made this call recently in Lagos while unveiling the seven-year strategic plan for the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, an arm of the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria committed to the support and empowerment of the poor and needy in society.
Archbishop Martins who is the Chairman of the Board of Caritas Nigeria stated that since its inception, in the past 14 years, Caritas Nigeria has progressively implemented over 65 complex humanitarian and development projects, across its thematic areas of focus.
He said that the foundation through its charitable activities has reached over 15 million beneficiaries with diverse services across communities in Nigeria.
Here him, “Our HIV/AIDS and TB interventions have supported over 10 million persons with HIV testing and counseling services, TB diagnosis and treatment. Currently, Caritas Nigeria is providing Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) to over 140,000 persons living with HIV and supporting over 100,000 Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC). These achievements have been recorded across the Northern, Southern, and Western States of the country.”
Archbishop Martins equally revealed that Caritas Nigeria’s humanitarian interventions have reached over 5 million persons across the Northeast and Northcentral with support to Internally Displaced Persons, host communities, returnees affected by the insurgency in North-East Nigeria, as well as Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria.
“We have impacted them through different services including direct food aid, non-food items, health services, unconditional cash transfers, income generating activities, vocational skills acquisition, etc.”
He stated that on Caritas Day, September 22, the foundation shall be giving back to the communities that have shaped it by contributing, in a unique manner, to their growth and well-being. He therefore called on the government at all levels, and all people of goodwill to join Caritas Nigeria in uplifting the poor by becoming the voice of the marginalized.
In his remark, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of Caritas Nigeria, Rev. Fr. Uchechukwu Obodoechina, Ph.D, appreciated all those who have supported the foundation over the past fourteen years, including international donors. He assured them that the foundation will continue to remain transparent, and accountable by ensuring that the resources at its disposal are judiciously utilized for the purposes they are meant for.
