Grand Gedeh:NLA Launches Humanitarian Outreach, Targets the Underprivileged Ahead of Festive Season

By: D. Abraham Cooper Sr. | Grand Gedeh Correspondent

‎Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County |Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025| The National Lottery Authority (NLA) of Liberia has officially launched a major humanitarian initiative in Grand Gedeh County, providing critical food and non-food supplies to persons living with disabilities (PWDs), the elderly, and other vulnerable groups as part of its nationwide festive outreach.

‎The exercise, which is being held under the theme of “Social Inclusion and Care,” marks a significant expansion of the NLA’s welfare programs under the current administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

‎Mandate and Purpose

‎The National Lottery Authority, established by an Act of the Legislature on March 6, 2015, is the statutory body responsible for regulating all gambling and games of chance in Liberia. While its primary roles include Regulation and Revenue Generation, the NLA’s third pillar—Social Responsibility—mandates the institution to use its resources to support the nation’s most marginalized citizens.

‎Speaking during the distribution ceremony in Zwedru, Ms. Helena B. Dior, Assistant Director for Welfare at the NLA, emphasized that this initiative is not merely a seasonal gift but a core fulfillment of the NLA’s legal mandate to provide care and social protection to orphans, the disabled, and the elderly.

‎A Nationwide Expansion

‎Ms. Dior revealed that under the strategic vision of the current Director General, Hon. Peter L. Solo, the NLA has transitioned from localized donations to a comprehensive nationwide program.

‎“Under the leadership of Hon. Peter L. Solo, we have decided to extend this distribution to all 15 counties of Liberia.

‎Furthermore, this support will no longer be a once-a-year event; it will now be conducted twice annually to ensure consistent relief for our people,” Ms. Dior stated.

‎She further noted that the initiative is fully sanctioned by the offices of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, aligning with the government’s ARREST Agenda, which prioritizes the rule of law and social welfare for all Liberians.

‎Details of the Donation

‎The current package for Grand Gedeh includes:

‎ * Over 800 bags of 25kg rice.

‎ * Large quantities of cooking oil and soap.

‎ * Essential hygiene items for elderly care.

‎Ms. Dior assured the community that the NLA plans to extend similar support to hospitals, safe homes, and public welfare institutions across the county in the coming weeks.

‎Operational Commitment & Long-Term Solutions

‎Mr. Christian Cooper, Deputy Director General for Operations, reaffirmed the Authority’s dedication to marginalized communities. He reminded the beneficiaries that the NLA was specifically created to serve as a safety net for the vulnerable.

‎“President Boakai deeply cares about the disabled community. This is just the beginning of a sustained engagement,”Mr. Cooper said.

He also disclosed that the NLA is currently intensifying efforts to reinstate the National Lotto system, which will create a permanent and sustainable revenue stream dedicated to supporting disability programs and welfare institutions nationwide.

‎Vision for the Future

‎In a concluding statement, the Director General of the NLA, Hon. Peter L. Solo, reaffirmed his commitment to going beyond food distributions. He outlined a future where the NLA assists the underprivileged in seeking higher education and works toward establishing specialized schools for the vulnerable.

‎Hon. Solo expressed his profound gratitude to President Boakai for his leadership in prioritizing the welfare of the “hidden” population of Liberia, promising that the NLA will remain a pillar of hope under the Unity Party-led administration.

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