- Tompolo’s Philanthropy, MagnanimiSpans More Than A Decade, Says Bebenimibo
Succour has come the way of hundreds of victims of the recent flood disaster that swept through most parts of the Niger Delta region, as a non-governmental organization, the Tompolo Foundation, has donated and delivered relief materials worth N150 million to those affected in Bayelsa, Rivers and Delta States.
It would be recalled that the recent flood affected well over 90% of Bayelsa State, over 70% of Rivers State and more than 60% of Delta State with its attendant over-sweeping destruction of properties, farm crops and residential buildings, resulting in over half a million internally displaced persons.
But on Monday November 22, the Tompolo Foundation owned by the Gbaramatu-born High Chief Government Oweizide Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), donated assorted relief materials to the value of over N150 million to ameliorate the plights of the victims of the flood in the three Niger Delta States of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa.
Items donated by the Foundation which was supervised by the Secretary, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, include 2,400 bags of rice, 100 bags of beans, 200 bags of garri, 5,000 tubers of yams, 200 gallons of palm oil, 600 gallons of groundnut oil and 2,000 cartons of Indomie noodles among others.
While delivering the relief materials to representatives of various Communities affected by the flood, Bebenimibo, emphasized that the items were strictly to provide succour to the vulnerable and under-privileged whose means of livelihood have been ravaged by the flood.
He cautioned against diversion of the materials, urging the representatives of the various affected Communities from the different Niger Delta States, to ensured that the items get to the beneficiaries.
Bebenimibo further explained that in Delta State, affected Local Government Areas of Bomadi, Burutu and Patani were part of those to benefit from the relief materials, adding that victims from
Isoko, Urhobo and Ndokwa nations also stand to benefit from the largesse.
Beyond Delta State, Bebenimibo, explained that Ahoada West and East Local Government Areas in Rivers State and seven out of the eight Local Government Areas in Bayelsa State which were impacted by the flood are part of the beneficiaries.
The New Diplomat can authoritatively report that the Gbaramatu-born philanthropist, High Chief Government
Oweizide Ekpemupolo (aka Tompolo), has been involved in humanitarian activities for well over a decade.
His humanitarian activities, The New Diplomat gathered cuts across education, health and other social works especially in the riverine Communities.
The Foundation further said: “We have been on this mission for about 10 years. Specifically, sometime in 2012, a similar flood came. The foundation provided palliatives for the people. And this year we have come again to do our beat.”
Speaking on behalf of the Bayelsa State Governor, the representative of Constituency 4, in the Bayelsa House of Assembly, High Chief McDonald Igbadiwei, expressed appreciation for Foundation for the donation of the items aid for the victims affected by the flood in the state.
Expressing profound appreciation to the Foundation, the Commissioner representing the Urhobo ethnic nationality on the DESOPADEC board, Chief Vincent Oyibode thanked the Tompolo Foundation for the good gesture, describing the Gbaramatu High Chief, as a “very good man.”
