Five Pan-Urhobo socio-cultural associations and citizens who are residents in the United States of America have presented relief materials to victims of the recent flood disaster in Urhobo Communities.
The groups, which include a coalition of the Urhobo Congress, Urhobo sons, and daughters living in the Tri-State of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, presented the items to Most Revd Cyril Odutemu, Archbishop of Bendel Province and Bishop of Ughelli Diocese (Anglican Communion), for onward presentation to the affected victims, at a brief and grand event held on Friday, 23rd December 2023.
The event also had representatives of the Anglican Church, including Clergymen and women, from the affected Urhobo Communities.
The other Diaspora groups who donated the relief items are the Urhobo Association of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, Omamode Ladies of USA; Eguono of New Jersey; and the Udu/Ughievwhen Association of New York.
Speaking on behalf of the pro-Urhobo groups during the occasion, Chief Felix Akpona, Vice Chairman of Urhobo Congress, while providing information on the donors, highlighted that 1500 tubers of yams and 100 boxes of noodles were presented by the Urhobo Congress, while the 130 bags of 25kg rice, was presented by the coalition of organizations that came together to send relief food supplies to the Urhobo flood victims.
Chief Akpona further appealed that the items should get to the target victims.
Receiving the relief items, Archbishop Cyril Odutemu, who expressed great joy and prayed to God to bless the donors and their associations, also thanked them for their thoughtfulness. He called on them, not to relent in their efforts but continue in the quest to do more.
Addressing the representatives of the church before releasing the food items, Bishop Odutemu urged them to ensure that the goods get to all victims. He reminded them that the relief materials are not Diocesan gifts, but donations from Urhobo sons and daughters of the Tri-State of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to Urhobo communities that have been destroyed by floods. “They shouldn’t be shared only to church members, but to everybody affected by the flood, no matter how small, the Archbishop admonished.
Further emphasising, that the Church is only a trustee of the relief materials, and a means of reaching out to the grassroots, Odutemu prayed for all those who came together and contributed towards alleviating the sufferings, needs, and wants of the people. He prayed to God to bless them mightily, saying all those concerned shall enjoy the fruits and benefits of their labour.
