The Imo State Chairman of the MATAN Food Bank Foundation, Hon. Chris Odika, has assured residents that the impact of the foundation’s numerous food security and empowerment initiatives would soon be felt across the state.
In a statement issued yesterday by Imuche Chukwu, the state Director of Information and Technology, MATAN, Odika gave the assurance while addressing members of the foundation in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area at the end of a statewide tour of its structures across the council.
He urged members to remain committed to the ideals of the foundation in order to achieve its mandate at the grassroots.
The chairman described MATAN as a non-profit organisation focused on tackling hunger and promoting food security through technology-driven and community-based initiatives.
According to him, some of the group’s key programmes include the Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative and the MATAN Community Compound Foods and Nutrition Resolution Initiative.
Odika explained that the Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative, launched during a national flag-off in Lagos last year with farmers and stakeholders from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, was designed to rebuild Nigeria’s food system from the grassroots using modern tools for food production, tracking and distribution.
He said, “The initiative targets over 40 million Nigerians through direct food access programmes, elimination of chaotic food distribution queues, and identification of vulnerable groups, including children, workers and low-income households, for intervention.”
The MATAN chairman paid tribute to the National President of the group, Ambassador Dr. Olakunle Moses Johnson, for what he described as visionary leadership.
Quoting the national president, Odika said many of Nigeria’s socio-economic challenges would naturally reduce once food becomes readily available, noting that hunger remained a major driver of insecurity, banditry and low productivity.
“Communities remain the focal point of MATAN’s operations to ensure even development across the country.
Odika also commended the Chief of Staff to the Vice-President, South-east Zone, Board of Trustees and National Secretary of MATAN Groups, Ambassador Dr. Felix Johnson Osakwe, for his role in ensuring the success of the foundation in Imo State and the South-East region.
He thanked the Ohaji/Egbema chapter of the foundation for its unity and dedication, promising continued support for members.
The chairman, however, warned members against turning the foundation into a political platform or engaging in activities capable of tarnishing its image.
Speaking during the visit, the Imo State Deputy Chairman of MATAN Food Bank Foundation, Deacon Tony Chukwu, explained that MATAN means “Motivating Action Towards Achieving Nutrition.”
Chukwu said the essence of the tour was to strengthen the foundation’s structures in rural communities, which he described as the primary beneficiaries of the organisation’s programmes.
“As agents of MATAN, you must ensure that every initiative of the foundation reaches people in the hinterlands. There should be no diversion of materials or opportunities meant for the people,” he said.
He also appreciated the Ohaji/Egbema chapter for the warm reception accorded the state executives.
The visiting team also paid a courtesy visit to the Eze-Elect of Umunwaku Autonomous Community, Chief Basil Ugochukwu.
The traditional ruler-elect pledged support for the foundation and expressed readiness to partner with MATAN to ensure his community benefits from its hunger and poverty alleviation programmes.
Earlier, the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area Coordinator of MATAN Food Bank Foundation, Hon. Jude Elechi, commended Odika for what he described as exceptional leadership, which he said had contributed significantly to the growth of the foundation in the state and across local government areas.
Elechi assured the state leadership that members of the local chapter would continue to discharge their responsibilities diligently and effectively.
He added that the visit by the state executives had boosted members’ confidence in the foundation’s ability to deliver on its mandate.
