Abuja – NIGERIA: Hundreds of people observing Ramadan in parts of Nigeria have received daily meals through a grassroots charity effort that organisers say is about more than food — it is also about dignity, compassion and unity.
The Pzafaama Helping Hand Foundation has spent the past month moving through communities to provide iftar, the meal eaten at sunset to break the daily fast during Ramadan. Volunteers distribute food immediately after the evening Maghrib prayer, ensuring that those fasting can eat without delay.
Over the 30 days of Ramadan, which began around 18 February and is expected to end today, 19 March, the foundation says it has supported more than 1547 orphans and vulnerable people, alongside hundreds of other residents struggling with rising food costs.
In many of the communities reached by the initiative, poverty and inflation have made it increasingly difficult for families to afford regular meals, let alone special food to mark religious observance. For those fasting, the daily uncertainty of whether there will be food at sunset adds another layer of hardship.
Princess (Dr) Hauwa P. Usman Dimka, the foundation’s founder, described Ramadan as a deeply important period for Muslims and said the campaign was rooted in both faith and social responsibility. She said the aim was to ensure that no one observing the fast would be forced to go without a proper meal at the end of the day.
“This is the most blessed time for Muslims, a time of reflection and giving,” she said. “We believe no one should be left behind, especially the poor and vulnerable.”
She was supported in the distribution effort by her husband, ACP (Dr) Usman Ahmed Abdul-Dimka, alongside a team of volunteers who travelled daily to deliver food packages and cooked meals.
But the initiative has not been limited to one faith group. In a parallel effort, the foundation has also been distributing food to Christian communities observing Lent, which runs for 40 days. Organisers say this dual approach reflects a commitment to supporting people regardless of religion in a country where interfaith tensions can sometimes run high.
The foundation has pledged to continue its outreach until the end of Lent, extending its support beyond Ramadan, which will conclude with the festival of Eid al-Fitr, expected to begin around 20 March.
Local residents have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a lifeline during a period of economic strain. Some said the effort had helped ease not only hunger but also feelings of isolation, particularly among orphans and the elderly.
Charity-led food programmes are increasingly filling gaps left by economic pressures in Nigeria, where millions face food insecurity. Yet organisers say their mission goes beyond immediate relief.
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