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Against the backdrop of abject poverty and hunger ravaging the African continent, the Israeli Embassy in Nigeria has agreed to partner with a Nigerian pressure group, Success Family Values Initiative (SFVI), to tackle the trend.
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The Israeli deputy Ambassador and Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. George Deek, who made the pledge when the president of the SFVI, promoters of the African Development Movement (ADM), Dr. Emmanuel Chima Okereke paid him a working visit in Abuja, said this had become imperative to stem the tide of recurring deaths in the continent occasioned by squalor and “citizens’ inability to have access to basic necessities of life”.
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He said Israel was particularly worried about wide-ranging droughts, floods and other man-made catastrophe plaguing the continent, and sees the inevitable need to assist.
“We want to see a situation where everyone on this planet earth should have, at least, the basic needs of life ?- ?food, shelter, water, healthcare, gainful employment and then live in dignity.
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“It does not necessarily matter whether you are black, white, African, Asian, American or European. As long as you are a human being created by the Almighty God, and the descendant of Adam and Eve, you don’t have any reason not to live in dignity.’’
He noted that Israel had come a long way from a mere desert in 1948 when it came into being, from a population of less than one million to a major global power, especially in the area of agriculture, science and technology, construction, medicine, etc, and emphasised that these were achieved through hard work.
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“Having come this far, it would not be right to say because we have arrived, then we wouldn’t bother if others are suffering. Hence, our readiness to assist at all times,’’ he said, and added that this was evident in his country’s practically felt legacy of aids all around the world, including Nigeria.