BY OSWALD AGWU
The ancient town of Ehugbo, christened Afikpo by the Whiteman, is one of the most prominent and urban cities in the Southern part of Ebonyi State. It is known for having produced a lot of prominent people who had made remarkable contributions to the political, social and economic life of Nigeria in the past, with more still exhibiting excellence in leadership positions and other various endeavors today.
The history of Nigeria cannot be complete without mention of the contributions of late Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam from Unwana community in Afikpo. In the same vein, Dr Onyebuchi Chukwu, Nigeria’s former Health Minister, among other sons of the land, still signposts the character of dedication, ebullience, intelligence and enterprise which God has benevolently bestowed on the people.
One thing that has significantly marked Ehugbo people as unique is their rich cultural heritage embedded in strong, interwoven paternal and matrilineal familial relationship. Another is its well organized age grade system which combined with the former to nurture formidable friendship, communalism and community-driven even development.
A group of about twenty young Afikpo women, under the umbrella of Ehugbo Unique Friends Foundation (EUFF) over the weekend, exemplified the fellow-feeling of the people as they empowered over 400 indigent persons drawn from 18 villages in the area, including Unwana community.
The young women, friends from childhood, school mates, and mainly old girls of Sir Francis Ibiam Grammer School, Afikpo, were united by common passion for charity. Most of them, professionals in various fields; some of them married out to other States, decided to come together to impact in the lives of their less privileged brothers and sisters taking advantage of their friendship platform.
The grand event was held on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at the Amaizu/Amamgbala community Primary School field located in the heart of the town, under the chairmanship of the former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Enwo Igariwey. Beneficiaries included over 10 qualified artisans empowered with work equipment ranging from Sewing Machines to giant, electric Hair Dryers. Others comprised of 100 indigent final year secondary school students whose WAEC registration fees were paid by the group.
The friends also gave Wheel Chairs to some disabled persons while about 360 others, comprising of widows, orphans and the poor were given various quantities of food items and clothing.
The group further gave financial assistance to some sick persons within the area to enable them cater for their hospital bills as well as distributed over 8,000 writing books to pupils and students across the area.
In her address at the event, the founder and president of the foundation, Lolo Chinedum Ozomgbachi, (Nee Chukwu), narrated their vision and mission: “Ehugbo Unique Friends is an association conceived to be used as a vehicle to give back to the society, especially the down trodden among our Ehugbo people.
“I muted this idea to some of my friends having lost contacts for decades after secondary school, the need to bond as friends and begin to help our people in whatever small way we can, as thanksgiving to God for keeping us alive and healthy.
“The actualization of this dream is what we as friends, unique in our various selves, have come together to propagate for a better Ehugbo.
“Our deliberations and subsequent interactions led to the inauguration of Ehugbo Unique Friends on April 24, 2021, as a registered Nongovernmental Organization.
“The inauguration sparked off the enthusiasm in us to find areas to explore to assist our people.
“The result of several months’ consultation and brainstorming has brought us to this occasion today, where we have gathered all of us, through our individual contributions, to put together these materials comprising of wheelchairs, Sewing machines, hair Dryers, food items, clothes etc, to give to our indigent persons…”
On why she chose to domicile the organization’s maiden official charity work in Ehugbo her home town, being married to Ezeagu in Enugu State, Ozomgbachi explained: “Honestly, empowering people is so dear to me.
“As a bonafide daughter of Ehugbo, I came here because I know we have such persons needing help in my community.
“There are widows and the elderly; there are youths that have learnt some trade, we gave them equipment to enable them walk the road to self reliance.
“We still hope to do more; we only need people’s cooperation…”
In an interview, the Special Adviser to the Foundation, and the logistics officer for the empowerment programme, Mrs Beatrice Oko, estimated the total cost of the empowerment materials at Twelve Million Naira.
Oko added: “When we started, it was like an impossible task. But with time, members responded fantastically.
“When we went into the villages to collect beneficiaries’ data, we thought they wouldn’t turn up.
“But from what they heard about us, the turnout today is so impressive.
“So, the programme is a huge success.”
Overwhelmed by the action of the women, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs Chinwe Okah who was the special guest at the event was immediately converted.
While challenging other women across Nigeria to emulate the Ehugbo Unique friends, she assured of her Ministry’s partnership with the Foundation to attain greater heights.
Okah said: I can’t very well explain how I feel today over the actions of these friends, but I know I am indescribably excited.
“I want to tell other women in the whole Nigeria, especially Ebonyi State, to emulate what is happening today, because Government cannot do everything.
“When you are blessed, you have to bless other people, and especially when you are married to other places, try to remember your home.”
Chairman of the occasion, Igariwey, in his remarks poured encomiums on the actions of the women, urging them never to relent. According to him, the Unique Friends, by their actions have proven to be good ambassadors of Ehugbo land, deepening the communalism which the town was known for.
Beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes who danced and jubilated at the venue of the event, expressed their gratitude.
An aged widow, Margaret Okonna; David Oko Alu and Favour Odinaka Ibiam, students of Enohia Itim Secondary School and Unwana Comprehensive Secondary School respectively, could not hide their feeling.
Ibiam, while explaining the process through which they were selected for the WAEC registration empowerment, said the women gave her hope.
Ibiam narrated: “They interviewed us to find out those who are less privileged; who doesn’t have hope.
“Like me, I am also grateful to God for giving me such opportunity, because I had lost hope.
“My Dad lost his job, and since then things have been hard, and I have a dream to become the first female architect from my community.
“I promise them that God helping me, I am not going to disappoint them; I will make them proud.”
Significantly, the friends brought in the God factor into the entire engagement which started from Friday with a rally and terminated on Sunday with a thanksgiving at the St, Mary Catholic Church Ngodo, Afikpo. Sunday night was a dinner party to further strengthen their existing bond and appreciate their supporters. The dinner also incorporated three lecture topics.
One of the topics: Train a Child, Develop a Nation, was handled by a renowned teacher, and wife of Chairman of the event, Mrs Martina Nwuji Enwo while the 2nd and 3rd topics on “Giving Back to Society, Need for Funding” and “Road to Poverty Eradication” were taken by two of the members of the group, Mrs Angela Iduma, Ph.D and Mrs Nnenna Ekuma, respectively.
The lectures which attracted wild ovation from guests added greater impetus to the uniqueness of the friends as worthy daughters in learning and character.
At the thanksgiving service, the Priest in charge of the Parish, Rev Father Simon Acha, speaking to newsmen, described the friends’ gestures as another way of promoting the human person, which according to him, was the summary of the work of Jesus Christ on earth.
“A lot of people thought precisely, that those who are indigents, the oppressed, have no voice, and may be, they are doomed.
“But when Jesus Christ came, he identified with them and promoted them.
“That is the summary of what I have seen, they did.
“Where there is charity, there is God; where there is God, there is love and progress.
“I believe they will progress.
“From their actions and activities, God will bless them and bless their handwork, and use them to further bless humanity” Father Acha adumbrated.
Indeed, the indubitable truth remains that a people’s cultural upbringing shapes their actions. Their actions define their personality.
For the young women in Ehugbo Unique Friends Foundation, friendship gave birth to charity, a charity which begins at home.
