In line with its commitment to delivering impactful social investments in host communities, Guinness Nigeria has donated relief materials to ActionAid Nigeria to support the organisation’s ongoing interventions at various camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Speaking at the donation, Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria, Mr. Sesan Sobowale, said the gesture was in furtherance of the company’s resolve to improve the quality of life in Nigerian communities.

“We are delighted that we have an opportunity to contribute in our own small way to ameliorate the conditions of our fellow citizens who are in IDP camps at the moment. We acknowledge that though this gesture may seem like a drop in the ocean, the value of what we are doing is in the hope that it encourages other corporate bodies to contribute to this noble cause, and also create awareness about the fact that there are many Nigerians today who as a result of the unfortunate circumstances are holed up in camps and make-shift shelters.”

Speaking on the partnership with ActionAid, Sobowale stated: “At Guinness Nigeria, we are always looking to build strategic partnerships that can drive our various interventions. As such, we are happy that we have partnered with ActionAid in making life meaningful for these Nigerians living in IDP camps. ActionAid has very extensive experience in providing emergency response to conflict-affected persons and communities, we are confident that they would help promote the general wellbeing of the IDPs.”

Receiving the relief materials, Director, Finance & Operations, ActionAid Nigeria, Oluwole Elegbede, thanked Guinness Nigeria for its thoughtfulness and demonstration of goodwill towards the poor and excluded members of society. He said the gesture would go a long way in improving the living conditions of people in some of the displaced persons camps in the country.

“At ActionAid, people are at the centre of what we do. We constantly strive to empower the poor and excluded, which is why we are very pleased with the gesture extended to the IDPs by Guinness Nigeria.”

Elegbede, speaking on the organisation’s plans, said that "ActionAid has been providing essential services to over 700 displaced people at the Nassarawa, Kaduna and Plateau IDP centres. “Since we do not know how long these people will live in displacement, we believe the provision of relief materials, psychosocial support and education in emergencies will help them regain their dignity and possibly their livelihood, if not fully but at least partially. These relief materials will go a long way in creating a wholesome environment for many of the displaced persons at the various IDP camps.”

•Photo shows, L-R; Head, Fundrasing, Toyin Ekpeneidua; Director, Finance & Operations, ActionAid, Oluwole Elegbede; Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Sesan Sobowale; Supporter Services Officer, Taiwo Yusuf and Sustainable Development Manager, Osita Abana at the handover of Mattresses for Internally Displaced Persons donated by Guinness Nigeria to ActionAid which held yesterday at the Guinness Nigeria Headquarters, Ikeja