Itsekiri National Congress–USA (INC-USA), national body representing Itsekiris in U.S., delivers holiday food relief in Big Warri, Orugbo

Itsekiri National Congress–USA (INC-USA), national body representing Itsekiris in U.S., delivers holiday food relief in Big Warri, Orugbo

Patron Prof. Eyisan Omagbemi says outreach is “a token of appreciation” to the community

The Itsekiri National Congress–USA (INC-USA), the national body representing Itsekiris in the United States, on Tuesday carried out a holiday food drive in Warri, delivering household food support packs in Big Warri and Orugbo communities.

The outreach comes amid year-end price spikes and increased household pressure, a development residents say has made basic food purchases more difficult during the festive period.

Our correspondent reports that distribution commenced in the morning at the Big Warri Community Centre before moving later in the afternoon to the Orugbo Community Hall, where a similar exercise was conducted for residents. At both locations, beneficiaries were seen queuing calmly as volunteers and community representatives coordinated a structured and controlled flow that helped prevent congestion and ensured a steady pace.

Prof. Omagbemi, INC-USA Patron, thanks the people

Professor Eyisan Omagbemi, a Patron of INC-USA, represented the organisation during the outreach and addressed residents at the distribution point. He thanked the communities for their cooperation and described the intervention as “a token of appreciation to our community,” noting that the gesture was intended to reach households directly at a time of heightened seasonal demand.

“This is a token of appreciation to our community,” he said, commending the work of volunteers and local stakeholders who supported coordination and helped keep the exercise peaceful, well-coordinated, and incident-free.

Household staples distributed

Items provided in the household packs included staple food commodities commonly used for family meals: rice, garri, cooking oil, tomato paste, seasoning and salt. Residents who spoke with our correspondent described the items as practical and timely, particularly at a period when market prices and year-end obligations often stretch household budgets.

A beneficiary in Orugbo, who asked not to be named, said the support would reduce pressure on her family’s year-end expenses. In Big Warri, another resident described the intervention as welcome, adding that the calm queue system and organised approach helped the exercise proceed without disruption.

Rows of items, registration and token system ensured orderliness

Our correspondent observed that volunteers arranged items in rows before distribution began, while organisers deployed a registration system supported by a checklist/register. Tokens were issued to beneficiaries and used to manage movement at the point of collection, with volunteers calling residents forward in turns—an approach observers said helped reduce disputes and maintain a steady flow.

An elder who monitored the exercise described the process as “orderly and respectful,” noting that the registration and token method helped ensure beneficiaries were attended to fairly.

An unnamed volunteer involved in coordination attributed the smooth conduct of the exercise to community cooperation and the token-based system, saying it helped maintain control and prevented overcrowding during the distribution.

Community-wide impact across two locations

Residents said the organisation of the exercise and the calm conduct of beneficiaries contributed to a smooth distribution, with the intervention touching families across the two communities. Community representatives were also seen supporting line management and verification, reinforcing the structured approach to household-level support.

Looking ahead

Residents in both Big Warri and Orugbo expressed hope that similar interventions would extend beyond the holiday period, noting that structured household support can strengthen community resilience and deepen unity. Organisers also acknowledged community cooperation and volunteer participation as central to the successful execution of the distribution across the two communities.

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