NGO’s Partner To Build Orphanages

Founder of Ben Kalu Foundation (BFK), Chief Benjamin Kalu, says the foundation is planning to set up three orphanages of international standard in the Senatorial zones of Abia State where it would carter for the less previlged in partnership with Australian non-governmental organisations.

“I want, on behalf of the BFK, to raise three orphanages for the helpless kids who are thrown into dustbins daily; little ones who committed no offence to become orphans. From there, we could raise them to become important personalities in the world,” Kalu told The Tide in an interview in Bende during the Seventh Edition of the BFK Poverty Alleviation Initiative.

Kalu disclosed that some foreign partners from Australia have indicated interest to work in the orphanages. “There are some white men and women in Australia who want to come and live here for some time to take care of the needy ones,” he said.

According to him, the first orphanage would be built in his Bende hometown for Abia North Senatorial zone. He disclosed that a prominent traditional ruler in Bende, Eze (Dr. ) Ariwodo Kalunta, has already provided a piece of land for the erection of the building and construction would commence soon.

He said he imbibed the spirit of giving to the less privileged from his late mother, Madam Mabel Kalu, who he said cared for the less privileged as though they were her biological children.

“I am passionate about this project because as a child, I was denied my position as the lastborn because we had less privileged orphans adopted by my mother and they are alive today. Some are in good positions. But I was happy seeing my mother care for other people who were not her children so I cultivated that spirit of helping the less privileged” he said.

Kalu who is the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Theodore Orji on Millennium Development Goals said he was entering into partnership with foreign agencies to expand the scope of his assistance to the poor. .

Coordinator of BFK, Chief Emma Onwuchekwa (JP), said Kalu has, through proper execution of the foundation’s noble objective, demonstrated his genuine love for humanity and belief in the universal brotherhood of mankind.

The BFK Poverty Alleviation Initiative is held every December 29 celebrated since 2002. It is a period the foundation puts smiles on the faces of indigent widows, youths and women from Bende local government area with micro-credits, motorcycles, sewing machines, generators, clippers, GSM phones, wrapper and food items, among others. Over 200 beneficiaries received various gifts during the seventh edition.

The event attracted Governor Theodore Orji, represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Uche Enyioko, the wife of the governor, Mercy, represented by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Nwada Igwe and Chief Nnanna Kalu, the lawmaker representing Aba Federal Constituency, the General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Cosmos Ndukwe and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agriculture, Chief Silas Eke, among other dignatories

They commended Kalu for his humanitarian gesture and urged the recipients not only to make judicious use of the items for their economic empowerment but to equally be a blessing unto others.