Lagos, Nigeria; December 15, 2009: Leading mobile operator, Zain Nigeria has announced the donation of food and other household materials to 38 charity homes across the country in its bid to bring some succor to the less privileged during the yuletide season.

The charity homes, which are mainly orphanages, were drawn from the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Zain Nigeria, Alain Sainte-Marie, the gesture is in line with Zain’s value of Belonging, which places the obligation of social responsibility  on the company as a citizen of the world and a corporate member of its immediate communities wherever it operates.

“We are reacting to a natural stimulus to show love and care for the less privileged members of our society by encouraging more privileged individuals and responsible organizations to imbibe the same spirit as Zain,” he said.

The joyful beneficiaries include Amadi Orphanage Home, Benin City, Edo State; Eleru Adebayo Children`s Home, Ekiti, Hope Orphanage and Foster Home State, Kwara; Ijamido Children Home, Ota, Ogun State; Ondo State children`s Home; Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church Motherless and Abandoned Babies Unit, Osun; Mercy Orphanage, Kaduna; Gusau Orphanage Home, Zamfara; Special Children Centre, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and Vocational Rehabilitation Centre, Enugu State

Others include Day care and Orphanage Centre, Gombe; Bauchi State Orphanage Home; Challenge Your Disability Initiative, Bauchi State, Mama Abayol Motherless Home, Benue State; Inna Care Initiative, Jigawa State; Aisha Maina Children`s Home, Plateau State; Unite Methodist Orphanage, Taraba State; Yetim Care Foundation.

In Sainte-Marie’s words, “the philosophy of a wonderful world, which we espouse in Zain, is borne out of the desire to continuously improve the quality of life of people and make the world a better place to live. This is not realizable, if we do not spare a thought for our less privileged brothers and sisters, especially at this time of the year-and that is what we have done with these donations”.

He explained that Zain Nigeria operates a “No Gift” policy, which means that rather than give gifts to already well-off business associates, the company donates the value in kind to the less privileged. By the same token, these associates are encouraged not to give gifts to Zain employees, but instead donate the value to any charities nearest to them, on behalf of Zain.

Earlier this year, Zain partnered with five charity institutions to support the less privileged in the society by donating household appliances (mattress, pillow, blanket) computers, wheel chairs, crutches, clothing   (baby dress, napkin) and food stuff (garri, beans, salt, rice, vegetable oil) across the country.