By The Hope Alive Initiative has commenced its 2026 outreach activities with the distribution of food items and financial assistance to vulnerable individuals in the community.
The programme, held on Monday, featured the distribution of packaged food supplies including rice, garri, noodles, and seasoning cubes to community members and participants who attended the outreach.
In addition, the organisers disbursed funds approved during the last edition of the initiative in December 2025. A total of eight beneficiaries, who had undergone prior vetting and approval, received financial support ranging between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 each.
During the session, the initiative also engaged with 22 new applicants who presented requests for medical assistance, financial aid, and other forms of support.
One of the beneficiaries, 80-year-old Johnbull Adesine, appealed for assistance to complete medical follow-up care after undergoing eye surgeries on both eyes. He explained that he required funds for medical check-ups, medication, and prescription glasses, having been unable to afford further treatment since August.
Responding to the appeal, programme facilitator Dr. Seun Cole confirmed that Mr. Adesine’s case had been approved and that arrangements would be made for him to receive care from the same eye specialist previously engaged by the initiative.
Another applicant, Mr. Kelechi Iwuonsu, a mechanical engineer, disclosed that he was diagnosed with glaucoma nine years ago. He noted that while the condition could be managed in Nigeria, surgical treatment was unavailable locally, making it difficult to sustain his treatment due to financial constraints. Dr. Cole assured him that a proper medical assessment would be conducted to determine the most appropriate form of support.
Also presenting her case was Bridget Ounye, who revealed that she had been diagnosed with kidney failure four months ago and had since exhausted her savings on dialysis. She explained that she could no longer afford the treatment, which costs about ₦80,000 per session, three times weekly, and was also facing accommodation challenges after the sale of her residence.
Reacting to her appeal, Dr. Cole described the case as critical, noting the initiative’s strong commitment to kidney-related medical interventions due to personal experiences linked to the cause. He assured that steps would be taken to ensure she receives the medical assistance required.
