No fewer than 1,000 residents of Ibadan metropolis benefitted from the over 20,000 dollars worth of relief package distributed by the Nigerian-American former professional basketball player, Hakeem Olajuwon.
NAN reports that the former professional basketballer played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and the Toronto Raptors from 1984 to 2002.
Among the items distributed as relief package for Ramadan and COVID-19 pandemic were rice, beans, apaghetti, bournvita and milk.
Dr Abdurrahmon Adesokan, the Chief Coordinator of the foundation in Nigeria, said the relief package was given to about 1000 vulnerable persons in Ibadan and its environs.
“For Ibadan and its environs, we are going to spend over 20,000 dollars.
” For this one, we have close to 1,000 beneficiaries.
“We still have a lot of people besides those that benefited; , we have them in mind, that is “insha Allah”, we are going to give them these items.
“We brought here 150 bags of rice. 100 bags of beans and 50 cartons of bournvita and milk each and 60 cartons of spaghetti,” he said.
Alhaji AbdulWahab Adelekan, who represented Olajuwon, said that the donor had been giving the items to the less privileged in Ibadan, Lagos and other places in the last 20 years.
“During Ramadan period, he has been sending money to buy food and give to the less priviledge. We did this type of thing in Lagos, two days ago,” he said.
Some of the beneficiaries thanked the donor for the gesture, calling on government and well-meaning Nigerians to emulate this.
Mr Akinkunmi Adeleke, a 50- year-old teacher, commended Olajuwon for the gesture, calling on government and well meaning Nigerians to continue to take care of the masses.
“It is very fantastic. It is for the poor and for the people who do not have enough to take care of themselves,” he said.
“We are very happy for that and we are very grateful. We pray that Almighty Allah continues to enrich their pockets,” she said.
