The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, have endorsed the N2 billion Endowment Fund launched by the Order of the Knights of St. Mulumba (KSM) Nigeria to support humanitarian interventions and vulnerable communities across the country.
The endorsement came on Thursday during the unveiling of the KSM Nigeria Endowment Fund and Integrated Charity Initiative in Abuja.
Represented by his Special Assistant, Chief Simon Tyungu, Akume described the initiative as a significant step towards institutionalising compassion and ensuring sustainable support for people in need. He noted that the fund would provide a long-term financing structure for humanitarian programmes through investment returns rather than periodic fundraising.
According to him, the initiative reflects the belief that service to God should be demonstrated through practical service to humanity.
Akume commended the Knights of St. Mulumba for over 70 years of promoting Christian values, social justice, education, peace-building and support for vulnerable groups, stressing that government alone cannot address all developmental challenges.
He called for stronger collaboration among faith-based organisations, the private sector, civil society groups and citizens to tackle humanitarian and social issues.
Represented by Chairman of the House Committee on Christian Pilgrimage Affairs, Hon. Festus Ayodele Adefiranye, Speaker Abbas described the fund as a visionary effort aimed at creating lasting structures for humanitarian intervention.
He said the initiative would strengthen the organisation’s capacity to provide support for disadvantaged persons while contributing to national unity and development.
Speaking earlier, Supreme Knight of the Order, Sir Steve Zakari Adehi (SAN), disclosed that the organisation aims to raise an initial N2 billion to establish a professionally managed endowment fund whose investment income will finance charity programmes indefinitely.
He explained that proceeds from the fund would support healthcare outreach, educational scholarships, humanitarian assistance for victims of violence, support for widows and orphans, correctional centre interventions, pro bono legal services and emergency relief efforts.
Also speaking at the event, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo highlighted his administration’s security achievements, including the neutralisation of notorious bandit leaders and the rescue of kidnapping victims, while reaffirming his commitment to humanitarian programmes and social welfare initiatives.
