By Aisha Gambo

A team of volunteers from Kaduna State has been presented with an award of excellence for its services in the advancement of humanity.

Mr Adetola Bamidel, Country Lead, Good Deed Day, an NGO, presented the award on Thursday in Kaduna.

Bamidele said that the team emerged third out of teams of volunteers assessed in 12 states of the country.

Good Deed Day is a network of volunteers who choose to organize events, improve their communities, share resources and inspire others.

It was established based on the idea that every person can do something good to improve the lives of others and positively change the world.

Bamidele said Oyo and Ondo states emerged first and second, respectively, adding that the winners were selected based on the positive impact they made on the people.

He said the group was a global movement based in Israel, promoting volunteerism to impact positively on human lives.

He said the mission of the group was also to push for good governance, so as to make life better for citizens through the provision of quality education, healthcare and clean environment.

Mrs Itama Okhuelegbe, the Focal Person of the team in Kaduna state, said they had supported indigent persons in the state, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nariya community, Igabi Local Government Area.

She said food items and clothing were distributed to the IDPs, who were also motivated to be positive about life, despite the condition they found themselves.

“Our aim is to bring out the goodness of everybody and see that Good Deeds Day becomes a household name in Kaduna communities.

“Everybody has a good side and we want more of that side; by the end of this meeting, we will pay advocacy visits to relevant stakeholders and sensitize Kaduna residents on doing good,” she said.

Abubakar Yusuf, Head of Operation, Kaduna State Community and Social Development Agency, commended the group for the initiative.

He explained that the agency has been engaging communities and intervened in the areas of education, health, water, sanitation and nutrition.

Yusuf said the agency was ready to support any  initiative that serves humanity, and advised the Good Deed Day movement to officially write to the agency on how they would work together to advance the cause of humanity.

Also, Mr Isiyaku Bala, Acting Deputy Director, Kaduna State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), said that they have similar mission with the team.

“Our mandate in RUWASSA is to provide potable water, sanitation and hygiene promotion which are good deeds, because it’s all about humanity.

“We can work together in terms of hygiene, sanitation and water and we would achieve alot in terms of sustainability”, he said.(NAN)