*Shares cash, foods, other gifts
By VICTOR NWEGEDE
Other gift items distributed by the foundation were over 200 bags of rice, cartons of indomie noodles, soaps, detergents, pampers and toiletries.
While speaking, the National President of Onwa Oferekpe Foundation, Comrade Kenneth Nwovu said the gesture was not politically motivated, noting that, it has become the culture of the foundation to cater for the welfare of the downtrodden, needy and other people who may be handicap because of one challenge or the other in the society.
Nwovu also stated that the foundation's humanitarian services were based on the mandate of her Grand Patron, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who is currently the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
He noted that the members of the foundation who cut across the state and beyond, were assigned to distribute the new year palliatives to all the orphanage homes, Correctional Service Centres and schools of the physically challenged students in the state.
"Today, is the day we decided to visit all the motherless babies, the inmates and the physically challenged students in the state.
"We are here with food items, detergents, other goodies including cash. We've been doing these and this year 2022, we decided to go to the Afikpo Correctional Service Centre, Nsugbe Motherless' Home Abakaliki town, Special School of Blind, Opa-Ephia in Izzi Local Government Area, and other places.
"We embark on this visit to dine with the them, discuss with them and make them feel remembered in the society no matter the gravity of their challenges.
"We've been doing this thing over ten years ago and it's not only by visiting the less privileged ones. We've been giving scholarship to people especially the downtrodden.
"Last year, we were able to finance the tuition fees of over 88 undergraduates from Ebonyi State and beyond, and some of our beneficiaries have graduated from universities. Last year, the foundation graduated about ten medical doctors, and others from different disciplines of human endeavours.
"Even in business, we've been making a lot of progress, to empower people to establish meaningful business ventures," Nwovu said.
He expressed the readiness of the foundation to continue to touch lives positively, saying that it only abhors 'gamblers' in disguise of the indigent persons and needy seeking her intervention at any point in time.
On his part, the National Vice President of the foundation, Hon Simon Iseh said that the Speaker of Ebonyi State Assembly, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru was full aware of the charitable donations to the people.
He said that the foundation would remain committed in rendering humanitarian services in the society, as in his words, "we know our Grand Patron, is a leader who cherishes to put smiles on the faces of the people especially the downtrodden."
Lending their voices, the General Secretary of foundation, Hon Okechukwu Nwokoro, the Treasurer - Prince Chinedu Augustine Uburu, Jeremiah Nwankwegu - the Chairman of Onwa Oferekpe Foundation in Izzi Local Government Area, among others stated that the gesture was part of the objectives of the foundation.
They equally commended their Grand Patron for standing firm for the progress of the foundation and prayed God to answer his secret prayers for the benefit of humanity.
On behalf of the recipients at their various locations, the Chairman of Nigerian Red Cross Society in Ebonyi State -Chief Simeon Nwachukwu Nweze, Mr Stephen Iyieke at the Afikpo Correctional Service Centre, the Principal of the Opa-Ephia Special School of Blind - Dr Emmanuel Utobo, ably represented by his Ophoke Christian, the Senior Perfect of the school, Emelam Miracle, among others expressed gratitude over the gesture and prayed God to fulfill the aims of establishing foundation while ushering encumiums on the Grand Patron, Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, members and the teeming supporters of the foundation.
