A humanitarian service Committee, known as Mercy Committee, set up by the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki to offer support to indingent Edo people said it has impacted 724 lives since it was inaugurated close to four years ago.
The secretary of the committee, Peter Igbogo made this known at a press conference held at the New festival hall, Government House, Benin City, where he presented what he termed a “cursory report of His Excellency’s Signature on some indigents in Edo State”.
Speaking further, he said, “immediately after the inauguration of His Excellency’s second tenure as Governor of Edo State on November 12, 2020, His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki raised a five-man team into a committee he called Mercy Committee which I am privileged to serve as secretary.
“The scope of this committee is to oversee request letters of assistance from indigent persons sent to His Excellency, carry out an assessment on the claims of the letters, interface, interview the claimants, review and make recommendations on such requests which must fall within Health challenges, Mini-business assistance, education, Household Economic Strengthening and others.
“Today, after almost four years in office, we can empirically state that His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki through Mercy Committee has achieved the following; at the end of 2021, His Excellency assisted 235 indigent persons. In 2022, he assisted 151 indigent persons. In 2023, he assisted 196 indigent persons So far in 2024, he has assisted 142 persons.
“That he budgeted Ten Million (#10,000,000.00) monthly to assist indigent people in the state. And increase the monthly expense on these indigents by 100% at the beginning of this year.
Igbogo noted that about 724 persons have been assisted so far with well over Four Hundred Million Naira Only (#400,000,000.00).
He said that 128 persons were supported in health category being their core focus, in areas around Cancer related issues, kidney transplant, Heart, Liver and other chronic health challenges in the last three and a half years
For Mini-business, about 287 mini-businesses were supported with funds to either start or upgrade an already existing one.
In the area of education, the Secretary of the committee revealed that about 131 indigent persons have been assisted with school aids to further or complete their education programs.
Also in household Economic Strengthening and others, he said 148 persons have been assisted.
According to Igbogo, “When we interfaced with these persons, our data shows that 42.7% of applications received and treated are from Edo South Senatorial District, 28.9% from Edo Central Senatorial District, while 21% represented requests from the Edo North Senatorial District.
However, we received 5% from Edo indigenes in the diaspora and 2.4% from none Edo indigenes within and outside Edo State, age limit notwithstanding.
“The joy of relief in the faces of the down trodden gives courage to His Excellency, and inspires more zeal in him to do more and to set a pace for subsequent administrations to follow. In the eyes of the so many challenges, we share in His Excellency’s idea of The Edo of Our Dream where everybody will be catered for. No brother, no sister left behind. We are Optimistic that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final say”, he added.
Some beneficiaries who spoke at the press conference lauded the humanitarian service initiative of Governor Godwin Obaseki through the Mercy Committee.
A retired Director in the state Civil service, Mrs Omosede Imogan whose daughter is a beneficiary expressed joy in the level of help rendered to her, adding that it has gone a long way in lifting the burden off her shoulders in catering for her daughter with a down syndrome and a hole in the heart.
In her words, “ This committee have done a great job. You don’t need to know anyone in government house, or, have connections with the high and mighty before you will be attended to. All you need do is write, you will be told how to go about the process. I really commend them for a job well done”.
She however advocated for the institutionalization of the committee for continuity.
Also speaking, Dr Nicolas Imasoloeva commended Governor Obaseki and the committee for proving that government can be closer to the people. He called for a wider publicity of the job going on in the committee as according to him, “ People really don’t know much about the committee”.
