Kamaru Usman, the Nigerian-born welterweight world champion of the Mixed Marshal Art promotion, Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC, has visited Nigeria for the first time in 26 years. Despite his busy schedule, he took time to partake in some philanthropic activities which include feeding 1000 indigent children in Lagos.
Usman’s philanthropic impact was felt at the Lagos State Food Bank Initiative located at Lateef Adams Estate, Cement Bus Stop, Ikeja, where he dined with the children and urged them to work hard to turn around their situations.
The World Champion arrived at the centre with his team and many media personalities. Upon his arrival, children in the neighbourhood who came with their parents showered praises on him.
He singlehandedly distributed food to 1000 indigent children.
While reacting to the turn out of children and their parents, he said: “Being born in a place like Nigeria helped mould me into the man I am today.” He added that he has never forgotten his Nigerian and African roots.
While speaking to The Guardian at the event, Lagos Food Bank Initiative President, Michael Sunbola, revealed Usman agreed to partner with his organisation because of the body’s record in feeding the poor.
He said: “The Food Bank Initiative is a non-profit organisation, whose target is to gather food from companies and well meaning Nigerians to feed the poor and malnourished children in the society.
“We discovered that much food are wasted in the country when processed by manufacturing companies and also some rich individuals, who have enough to eat. We therefore go round to collect the food items to feed the poor.
“Usman decided to collaborate with the Lagos Food Bank Initiative by donating food items and personally being involved in sharing the food items. His goal is to reduce the high level of malnourished kids in the society and also help the less privileged people in Nigeria.
“1000 children were fed by the UFC star in this centre. He encouraged the children to be good ambassadors of the country, while the children and parents sang and prayed for Usman to continue excelling in his career.”
