Nation
Foundation Vows To Bridge Class-Gap In Nigeria
The Ebele and Anyi Chuks Foundation, a non-governmental organisation says it seeks to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor with its humanitarian activities.
Founder of the foundation, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Odii, made the disclosure at Isu, his hometown while distributing food items, cash among others to the people of the area to celebrate the Christmas and New Year.
Odii said that there was much gap between the rich and poor in the country, which has created inequality and discontent among the people.
“The foundation has been assisting the needy and empowering people for over 15 years and was motivated by God’s selflessness in sacrificing his only son to save mankind.
“We have built 77 houses for indigent persons, six churches to assist in propagating God’s word and a palace for the tradition ruler of the area.
“I have added another 23 houses to the 77 houses we built and they would soon be handed over to the beneficiaries,” he said.
The foundation’s founder said that he built the houses with the same quality he used in building his house in Lagos and this was to give the beneficiaries a sense of belonging.
“This is to make the children of the beneficiaries appreciate God’s kindness on them and make them offer nothing less when they want to assist others.
“Nigerians always offer leftovers to others, but at the Ebele and Anyi Chuks Foundation, we selflessly offer all we have with the fear of God,” he said.
He noted that the foundation’s activities do not have political undertones as the United Nations has always identified with its ideals.
“Everyone cannot be in the forefront of politics and there would be people who would operate at the home front to organise things.
“We pray for God’ continuous guidance and capacity to impact positively on the society and once such grace continues, our efforts would be relentless,” he said.
Odii said that the foundation’s activities extend beyond the frontiers of Ebonyi and Nigeria as it has supported people with empowerment packages, scholarships among others.
“We constructed over 2.2km of asphalted road with drainages in Magodo Estate Lagos, while distributing COVID-19 palliatives to people in 11 states of the country,” he said.
The foundation’s Coordinator in Ebonyi, Mr Christian Onu, said that its staff were motivated by the zeal shown by the founder and his wife Ebele, to assist humanity.
“We are presently distributing over 15, 000 bags of rice, over 2000 bales of wrapper, cash running into millions of naira and also empowering youths to be self- dependent during this exercise,” he said.
He said that the foundation strictly observed COVID-19 protocols: use of face masks, hand washing and use of sanitisers during the distribution while restricting the number of attendees.
Senator Amah Nnachi (PDP-Ebonyi South) commended the foundation for its philanthropy to people in his senatorial zone, noting that its gestures do not have political undertones.
“Dr Odii has done the senatorial zone proud and his actions should be emulated by all especially those involved in politics,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Vivian Nwaje, thanked the foundation for the gesture and prayed that God gives it the enablement to sustain good works.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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