On Saturday, April 10 2021, Members of the Omonuwa Echie C.harity Foundation visited the Iwaya community in Yaba, Lagos State for their first soup kitchen of the year.
The outing took place at the palace of the Oba-elect of Iwaya, and was organized to mark the OEC Foundation day of service.
The six-man team consisted of dedicated volunteers and were led by Ehiaghe Echie, Co-Founder of the foundation. They were received by Iwaya palace chiefs including the secretary of the council and the youth leader namely Chief Balogun, Chief Otumba and Chief Akogun.
The event began with a welcome address from Chief Akogun, expressing their appreciation to the OEC Foundation team for the timely visit. The chiefs mentioned the sorry state of the Nigerian economy and how individuals need to look after each other.
The team lead, Ehiaghe Echie thanked the chiefs for their warm welcome and talked about what the foundation’s basic mission is; to offer a helping hand to the less privileged. She stated that the foundation’s target audience for the day was adolescent girls and children of Iwaya.
After the preliminary discussions, food packs were distributed to over a hundred women, young girls and children. Sanitary pads were also given to adolescent girls.
The outing ended with a vote of thanks from the palace secretary on behalf of the Kabiyesi and the rest of the royal council. He mentioned again that it is not an easy feat for people to dip their hands into their pockets to support strangers. He added that the people of Iwaya deeply appreciate the kind gesture from the foundation. The Iwaya women’s leader also offered a short prayer for the OEC Foundation team on behalf of the council.
As the OEC Foundation team took their leave, they left smiling women and children behind them at Iwaya.
The Omonuwa Echie Charity (OEC) Foundation is a Pan-African aid organization that exists to uplift the less privileged in society and be a helping hand to those in need. it is based in South Africa but operates in Nigeria and currently nurses plans for expansion.
In the words of the founder of OEC Foundation, “Poverty is right in front of us, and its eradication begins with us”.