By Chioma Obinna

No fewer than 300 vulnerable families in Lagos have received food packs and free medical services under a humanitarian outreach organised by Deborah’s Impact Projects Africa, DIPA, as the organisation raised concern over worsening hunger and poverty in the country.

The outreach, held in the Oniru community of Lagos, brought together widows, elderly persons and low-income families who benefitted from food support, blood pressure checks, blood sugar screening and other basic healthcare services.

Speaking during the outreach, Global Operations Lead of DIPA, Ms. Nkoyo Ugbe, said the initiative, known as the “Joseph Project,” was designed to move African women and families from surviving to thriving.

Ugbe explained that DIPA, a Christian faith-based non-governmental organisation founded by Apostle Isi Igenegba, currently operates in Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa, with plans to expand across the continent.
“One of our key projects under DIPA is the Joseph Project, which is a food intervention initiative targeted at vulnerable people, widows and families struggling with access to food,” she said.

“We started by registering 100 widows and supplying food items monthly. Today, by the grace of God, we have catered to about 300 families here in Oniru.”

She noted that the increasing turnout at the outreach reflected the growing hardship in the country.

“As you can see, there are many people outside the gates trying to get in, but we only had 300 packs for pre-registered beneficiaries. The need is enormous, and that is why we are calling on more sponsors and partners to support us.”

Ugbe said the organisation combined humanitarian support with spiritual encouragement.

“We are aware of the hunger in the land. Jesus did not only preach to the multitude, He also fed them because He knew they were hungry. That is the same compassion driving this project.”

She added that beyond food distribution, DIPA was also investing in educational support, menstrual hygiene initiatives and community outreach programmes for children and women.

According to her, the organisation has reached over 1,000 beneficiaries within the last two to three years.

“If you help a woman, you have helped an entire family. No woman will take this food home and eat it alone. She will feed her children and others around her,” Ugbe stated.
She disclosed that DIPA envisioned expanding the Joseph Project into large-scale agricultural production and job creation in the future.

“We believe Africa is the solution to global food security. By the grace of God, we hope to acquire land, employ people as farmers, grow food and provide sustainable support for communities.”

Also speaking, Operational Manager of Access Heart Foundation, Mr. Richard Ponle, said the foundation partnered with DIPA to provide medical screening and sensitisation during the outreach.

“So far, we have attended to over 50 people, mostly women. The most common health issue we have identified is high blood pressure,” he said.

“Many people are walking around unaware of their blood pressure status. We are checking their vitals, blood sugar and body mass index while also providing medications and counselling.”

Ponle revealed that some beneficiaries recorded dangerously high blood pressure levels and were referred for further medical care.

“Out of every 10 Nigerians, a significant number are hypertensive, and many do not know. That is why awareness is critical,” he added.

Also, Dean of Isi Benedicta Institute, Ms. Sandrah Namuwaya, said the institute brought international students from different countries to participate in the humanitarian exercise as part of practical community impact training.

“Our students came from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Trinidad and Tobago, Liberia, Togo and Uganda. We teach leadership and spiritual formation, but we also believe in practical expressions of love and compassion,” she said.

“We want the beneficiaries to feel loved, seen and remembered. Beyond preaching, we want to demonstrate the heart of Christ through service.”

On her part, the Programme Director and Head of Administration for Deborah’s Impact Project Global, Barrister Diezani Ototo-Onuorah, linked the initiative to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on zero hunger.

“We saw the level of hunger and poverty in society and asked ourselves what contribution we could make. That is why we started this programme focused on widows, elderly persons and vulnerable families,” she said.
“This project is not just about sharing food. It is about ensuring families have basic nutrition and helping women support their households.”

Ototo-Onuorah, however, lamented rising operational costs driven by inflation and high fuel prices.

“When we started, what cost N2 million or N3 million now requires up to N10 million. Food prices and logistics costs keep increasing, limiting the number of people we can reach.”

She appealed for government, corporate and private sector partnerships to scale up the intervention.

A beneficiary, Mrs. Evelyn Falana, expressed gratitude to the organisers, describing the outreach as timely support for struggling families.

“Some people came here today with nothing at home, but they are leaving with joy. God will bless everyone who contributed to this programme.”
“They will never lack because they remember people like us.”