Ovaltine producers, Twinings Ovaltine Nigeria, and DHL Express are in a partnership to donate and transport the beverage to internally displaced persons (IDPs) at the Yola camp in Adamawa State.
Both organiations want to use the partnership to amplify their corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment, according to Twinings General Manager, Enrico Liggeri, and DHL Managing Director, Randy Buday.
Liggeri said as responsible corporate citizens, both companies recognise that this is the right time to respond to the plight of IDPs “because they require our collective support and empathy at this critical moment of their lives.”
He disclosed that Twinings is touched by the displaced persons’ need for highly nutritious food, especially children, nursing mothers, and the aged; and there is need to keep them strong and healthy as the government at all levels continue efforts for their permanent resettlement.
He advocated that the condition of IDPs should be of concern to everyone, individuals and corporate firms, as Twinings and DHL have demonstrated.
His words: “This gesture by Ovaltine and DHL is all about responding to the humanitarian need of the displaced persons at this critical moment of their lives.
“We feel their pain and the need to be provided with nutritious food so they can remain healthy and be able to live an active life in spite of their current predicament.”
Ovaltine is providing free products while DHL provides free air and road transportation to get the consignments to the Yola camp.
Liggeri commended DHL for the partnership which makes possible the transportation of the consignments of Ovaltine from the company’s factory in Lagos. He also thanked the Medical Women Association of Nigerian (MWAN) for its support.
“I urge more Nigerians and corporate organisations to demonstrate their disposition to human kindness and compassion by coming forward in assisting the displaced persons. They need our comfort, they need our succour.
“They have found themselves in a situation they did not plan; the best we can do in this circumstance is to offer them a shoulder to lean on. We must all stretch our hands of fellowship to them and let them feel loved.”
Buday said DHL is pleased to support the initiative by Ovaltine to bring nourishment to displaced persons, as CSR is an integral part of the company’s strategy and is committed to making a difference in the communities within which it operates.
“As the largest express logistics company in Nigeria,” he added, DHL is in a very fortunate position to be able to partner with Twinnings and trusts that its contribution will make a tangible difference to the people at the Yola camp.
