Ebonyi Fire: NGO Donates N5m To Victims 

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Ebele Anyichuks Foundation, has donated N5 million to victims of a fire outbreak at Eke Market, Afikpo in Ebonyi State.
State Coordinator of the foundation, Chief Christian Onu, made the donation at the scene of the incident, at the weekend.
Onu said that the founder of the foundation, Dr Ifeanyi Odii, sent the team to the market to assess the extent of damage and assist the victims to ameliorate their plights and urged the victims not to be discouraged by the incident.
Onu said: “The market authorities informed us that the fire affected three market outlets which consist a total of 36 shops.
“We know that the money might not entirely cushion the effects of the incident, but have also requested for the victims’ data for further assistance.
“Many of the victims might have lost personal belongings which money cannot replace, but we would always support them.
“We would determine those who still want to continue in their areas of business and those who want to change, for further mentorship and support”.
He advised traders and others in the society to always be conscious of the devastating effects of fire and apply precaution on issues concerning it.
“They should switch off all electrical appliances after usage and shun the storage of flammable items in their surroundings.
“The authorities have not intimated us on the possible cause of the outbreak, but we know that the factors listed can cause such”, he said.
Onu said that the donation had no political undertone, explaining that it is purely humanitarian in line with the principle of the foundation.

“The foundation has been involved in humanitarian endeavours for the past 17 years and duly certified by the United Nations.

“It operates in the areas of free education, medical care, mass housing schemes, public enlightenment, general support to victims of disasters, among others.

“The foundation has fully built 137 houses for indigent persons, eight churches for various denominations and a palace for a traditional ruler.

“It has also empowered over 10,000 persons to venture in various businesses, offered scholarships to over 10,000 students among other humanitarian interventions,’ he said.

In his response,  Chairman of the Afikpo Market Traders Association, Johnson Inya-Oka,  thanked the foundation for the gesture noting, that the incident was devastating.

“Donations such as this will surely assist in giving the victims a new lease in their businesses”, he said.

One of the victims, Mrs Chinelo Mgba, said she lost her entire wares to the outbreak, and appealed for more assistance from the government, good-spirited individuals and organisations.

She thanked the foundation for assisting the victims and prayed God to continue to bless the founder of the foundation.