Ali Tallafi Foundation has launched a humanitarian initiative aimed at connecting vulnerable and less-privileged residents in Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State with individuals and organisations willing to provide assistance.
The platform, founded by humanitarian advocate Ali Tallafi, focuses on using social media to bring the plight of people facing hardship to public attention and mobilise support for their immediate needs.
Speaking with newsmen in Maiduguri on Wednesday, Tallafi said the initiative was created to bridge the gap between vulnerable families in need and philanthropists within Nigeria and beyond.
According to him, the platform identifies individuals and families struggling with food, medical expenses, shelter and other basic necessities, documents their experiences and shares their stories through social media platforms, including Facebook and TikTok.
He explained that the initiative also uses video, radio and newspaper reports to amplify the cases and provide updates when assistance is received.
“My platform becomes popular in the state and also a saving life for many vulnerable groups in the state. The platform is simple and effective. “, Ali said.
Tallafi said one of the key features of the initiative is transparency. After documenting the challenges faced by vulnerable residents, the platform publishes their stories and subsequently shares follow-up videos showing beneficiaries receiving assistance generated through public appeals.
He said the approach has attracted considerable attention in Borno and neighbouring communities, with individual cases often generating wider community responses.
“Beyond direct aid, I am pushing a broader message: that social media should be used as a tool for good by using social media to promote peace and advocate for the wellbeing of the less privileged people among us”, Talafi said.
He urged more Nigerians to make positive use of social media by drawing attention to the needs of vulnerable people and helping to connect them with those who can offer assistance.
Tallafi said residents of Maiduguri and other communities have responded positively to the initiative, with some encouraging him to sustain the humanitarian work.
‘They asked me to keep doing what I am doing and called on others to do same,’ due to the vision and foresight it has given to the people who are often under reported and neglected.
The foundation’s founder said the initiative was particularly important at a time when many communities in Borno continue to face the effects of displacement, economic hardship and humanitarian challenges.
“With IDPs displacement, economic hardship, and humanitarian needs still pressuring in Borno, our social-first platform is offering a new channel for humanitarian support with one video, one interview, and one act of kindness at a time,” Talafi said.
The foundation said its broader objective is to continue using digital platforms to spotlight people whose struggles may otherwise remain unnoticed while encouraging citizens, philanthropists and organisations to contribute towards improving the lives of vulnerable residents across Borno State and Nigeria.
