Diaspora Group Rallies Support to Meet Basic Needs of Less Privileged

The Yoruba Community of Connecticut, a non-governmental organisation, has called on Nigerians in the diaspora to step up efforts in addressing the basic needs of underprivileged citizens through consistent philanthropic projects.

Speaking during the distribution of food items to 18 communities in Ijaye Olode, Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, a member of the group, Ayodele Adetona, explained that the initiative was aimed at alleviating hunger and ensuring families could meet their most pressing needs.

Adetona noted that all the organisation’s projects are self-funded by members without external donations or government aid. “Because we have the means, we decided to engage in initiatives that help the less privileged meet their daily needs. Beyond food support, we have provided consumables, drugs, beds, and wheelchairs to hospitals, while also assisting schools with scholarships and educational materials,” he said.

He stressed that meeting basic needs such as food, healthcare, and education is a critical step toward reducing poverty, urging other Nigerians in the diaspora to do more to support communities back home. “Our people need us, and the government should also partner with NGOs and diaspora groups willing to tackle these challenges,” he added.

Chairman of the Ijaye Olode Community Development Association, Kehinde Adeleke, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, described the gesture as timely, saying it had brought relief to families struggling to put food on their tables.

The group further disclosed plans to expand the annual food distribution programme across the South-West, reinforcing its mission to provide essential support and uplift vulnerable households.