In a move that transcends its core mandate of power distribution, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) has launched a significant humanitarian initiative, delivering essential supplies and a message of hope to vulnerable children in Rivers State. This effort highlights a growing trend where utility companies are expanding their role to become pillars of community support.
Food and Compassion in the Season of Giving
By Desmond Ejibas
Port Harcourt, Dec. 19, 2025 (NAN) – The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) on Friday distributed a comprehensive array of food items and essential supplies to the Port Harcourt Children’s Home. This gesture, timed for the yuletide season, underscores a strategic shift in how corporations engage with their host communities, moving beyond transactional relationships to foster genuine social bonds.
Presenting the items, the Managing Director of PHED, Mr. Ete Pinnick, represented by the company’s Chief People Officer, Mrs. Angela Ajare, framed the outreach as an embodiment of Christmas values. “Christmas is a period of compassion, love, and shared humanity,” he stated. “It is a time to show love, spread joy, and demonstrate the values that epitomise Christ, who is the reason for the season.”
Pinnick elaborated on the philosophy driving the initiative: “Providing these items is our way of ensuring that these beautiful children celebrate Christmas in a joyful and dignified manner. No one should be left behind. When we extend a hand of kindness, we build a stronger and more compassionate community.” His remarks pointed to a deeper understanding of corporate citizenship, where business success is intertwined with societal well-being.
Beyond Charity: Investing in Potential and Dignity
The initiative was carefully designed to address both immediate needs and long-term encouragement. Pinnick’s message to the beneficiaries was particularly poignant, aiming to affirm their worth and potential. “Our vulnerable children should know that they are gifts, each born with purpose, dignity, and unlimited potential,” he said. “We want children in orphanage homes to know that they are special, strong, and loved… They should also understand that no matter where life begins, it is where it leads that truly matters.” This focus on dignity and future potential elevates the program from a simple donation to an investment in human capital.
Mrs. Olubukola Ilevbare, PHED’s Head of Corporate Communications, explicitly connected the action to the company’s broader identity. “PHED should not only be known for collecting electricity bills,” she noted, “but also as a company that cares and shows compassion to its host communities. This is simply our way of saying Merry Christmas… and letting them know that PHED truly cares.” This statement reveals a strategic intent to balance the often challenging perception of a utility bill collector with that of a community partner, a crucial reputational asset in today’s business landscape.
Sustained Support and Tangible Impact
Pinnick assured that such community support aligns with PHED’s enduring philosophy, suggesting this is not a one-off event but part of a sustained commitment. The matron of the Children’s Home, Mrs. Sarah Kusoro-Jumbo, highlighted the practical impact: “We are truly delighted that our children will now sleep on better mattresses. We appreciate the food items, clothes, books, and other materials.”
The distributed items were notably comprehensive, addressing diverse needs:
• Sustenance: Bags of rice, beans, garri, noodles, semovita, beverages, vegetable oil, baby food.
• Care & Hygiene: Toiletries, diapers, and wipes.
• Education & Development: School materials, books, and customised PHED notebooks.
• Home Infrastructure: Gas burners, cylinders, and mattresses.
• Morale: Customised PHED clothing.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the goodwill also aimed to ease the burden on caregivers during the festive season, acknowledging the ecosystem of support surrounding the children. This holistic approach demonstrates a mature CSR model that considers secondary beneficiaries and systemic needs, setting a benchmark for how infrastructure companies can integrate social value creation into their operational ethos, lighting a different kind of hope in the communities they power.
DES/UNS
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Edited by Sandra Umeh
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