Christian Lent : First Lady Dominique Ouattara donates 130 million CFA francs to the Christian community

On the occasion of Christian Lent, First Lady Dominique Ouattara shows solidarity to the Christian community on Tuesday April 8, 2025. She donated  foodstuffs worth 130 million CFA francs to support christian communities during this period of recollection and spiritual uplift.

 The donations will be given to the country’s most vulnerable families  through Catholic parishes, Methodist, Evangelical and African Revealed churches, as well as the many religious congregations and associations throughout the country.

The official handover ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Children Of Africa Foundation, in the presence of a number of personalities, including Mr. Diomande Vagondo, Minister of Home Affairs and Security, Mrs. Myss Belmonde Dogo, Minister of Social Cohesion, Poverty Reduction and Solidarity, and numerous Christian religious leaders.

In her address, the First Lady recalled the spiritual and social significance of Lent, a high point in the Christian liturgical year, a symbol of sharing, prayer and solidarity. “Lent is an important time in the Christian life, inviting us to introspection and prayer. It’s also an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to our brothers and sisters. During this period of penitence, it is important for every believer to show love, generosity and sharing,” she declared.

Mrs Dominique Ouattara expressed her joy at being able, through this act, to bring comfort to those who need it most: “It is in this same spirit that we meet today, to do charity work. And I’m happy that each and every one of you has been able to join us for this event, which is particularly close to my heart.” She also warmly thanked the donors and religious leaders who had made this initiative a success, before concluding with a wish for peace and hope: “Finally, I would like us to unite our prayers so that our beautiful country remains peaceful. May this month of Lent be for everyone a journey of love and faith.

General Diomande Vagondo, Minister of Home Affairs and Security, praised the First Lady’s generosity through this ceremony, which has now become a habit. He also noted the singular nature of this Lenten event, which hapens with the Muslim fast. For him, these moments of high spirituality call for cohesion and unity on the part of religious guides and all Ivorians.

After thanking the First Lady for her social commitment to the underprivileged, Mrs Myss Belmonde Dogo, Minister of National Cohesion, Solidarity and the Fight against Poverty, called on religious leaders to unite in prayer for peace and unity during this electoral year. She insisted on the country’s religious diversity, which she sees as an asset. She concluded by calling on religious guides to be messengers and ambassadors of peace for social cohesion.

The Reverend Father Eric Norbert Abekan, representative of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Côte d’Ivoire and spokesman for the beneficiaries, thanked the Presidential couple on behalf of the religious guides and members of the Christian community for their generosity during this month of Lent.

This highly spiritual ceremony demonstrates the First Lady’s commitment and sense of sharing.