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Tag: Foundation

  • NTIC Foundation: A worthy CSR initiative

    NTIC Foundation: A worthy CSR initiative

    Such encounters are rare. Most times, we see them in bestsellers and fictio-nal novels. But the story of baby Ibrahim is real, and it happened in Yobe State.

    Ibrahim is a six-month-old baby who was diagnosed with bilateral cataracts when a group of doctors and nurses from Nizamiye hospital Abuja visited Yobe for a medical outreach. The medical outreach was facilitated by the Nigerian Tulip International Colleges Foundation (NTICF) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative in schools.

    According to Mr. Behlül Fat-ih Baaran, the director of NTIC foundation, the medical outreach in Yobe State is amongst the numerous initiatives lined up for the NTICF in 2017.

    “The choice of Yobe State is informed by the fact that we wanted to reach out to people in high need of medicare,” he stated. “We at NTICF do not believe there should be barriers or excuses in reaching out to individuals in need especially in health-related issues.”

    The case of baby Ibrahim is one out of the numerous medical conditions that were diagnosed during the programme. One of the team members, Dr. Muammer Abdu-llahi, a consultant ophthalmologist, said Ibrahim’s case is a rare condition that would have led to blindness if it was not detected.

    “Ibrahim was diagnosed with bilateral cataract, which is a clouding of the lens in the eye which leads to a decrease in vision and if left untreated, would have caused blindness.”

    Basaran said, “Baby Ibrahim is among the 1700 patients attended to by the team of doctors and nurses in Yobe State under the outreach programme.”

    He further added that Ibrahim some others with eye defects would be treated free of charge at the Nizamiyehospital.”

    The NTIC Foundation was established in June 2013 with initiatives designed to heal the sick, feed the hungry, provide succour for the fatherless and the motherless, protect entire communities against preventable diseases provide nutritional support for poor households, among others.

    “We are concerned about the less privileged in the society, that is why our initiatives are designed to have an impact in their daily lives,” says Mr. Basaran.

    “In the past four years, the NTIC foundation has embarked on free medical services that have seen over 300 beneficiaries whose eyesight has been restored through the cataract removal program in collaboration with the Nizamye Hospital.”

    There is also its “Clean Water Project” which aims to protect millions of children who are especially vulnerable to waterborne diseases. On its motivation for the clean water project, Mr. Baºaran says “We realised that a substantial percentage of Nigerians in rural areas do not have access to portable water. So far, the foundation has constructed over 300 boreholes inrural areas in Kano, Kaduna, and Abuja, Yobe, Bauchi, and Lagos states.

    The NTICF also operates a unique scheme called I Support a Child’s Education where stationery items are distributed to primary school pupils in rural areas. “What we do here is to source for funds from our parents, partners, and well-wishers. Afterward, we purchase stationery items like mathematical sets, notebooks, sketching books, pens and pencils, erasers, sharpeners and other stationary materials for students,” says Baºaran. So far, “we have distributed over 41,500 stationary packs to schools in the last four years in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.” he also added.

    The Foundation also carries out visitation to orphanages on a regular basis. “Orphans are the children of the whole nation, for that reason we feel their responsibility is on our shoulders.” Mr. Basaran stated in an emotional voice. Recently, the Foundation launched a project to donate new clothes, toys and provides food stuff and renovates some orphanages in the country.  ”We also intend to visit some IDP camps in Yobe state with over 5000 brand new clothing to give them a sense of belonging and show some love to them.”

    The NTIC foundation interventions in the critical areas of health, education, and water cannot be overemphasized in a country like Nigeria. It has redefined the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. It has also gone ahead to serve as a worthy example to other institutions in Nigeria on how to give back to the society. “We want to make positive impact hence the choice of health, water, and education. And we have strived to put smiles on the faces of people in need in these critical areas.”

    The NTIC Foundation seemed to have imbibed the traditional wel-farist philosophy from everyone according to his ability and everyone according to his needs ‘. But whether or not the NTIC formally adopts it as its guiding philosophy, it is evident that Nigeria is not just a market; it is home and a place they are desirous of its growth and development.

    “Nigeria is home to us. We are committed to the positive growth and development of Nigeria.”

    • Ocheja writes from Abuja

  • Minister lays foundation for 127-bed teaching hospital

    Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello has laid the foundation for a 127-bed teaching hospital in Abuja.

    While laying the foundation for the multi-billionaire Baze University Teaching hospital in Jabi, Bello said the Hospital portends hope for ordinary Nigerians, adding that it would complement government efforts at bridging the gap in the provision of quality healthcare services in the Territory.

    His words: “The establishment of Baze University Teaching Hospital is taking place at a very auspicious time when Nigeria is experiencing a downturn in the provision of quality healthcare in the country, especially at the primary level. This Teaching Hospital is a welcome development in bridging the gap”.

    The minister who was represented by FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye further revealed that the hospital would ensure that the teeming residents of the Territory have access to good medical treatments, thus guaranteeing healthy living.

    Bello according to the statement issued by  the Press Secretary, Office of the Permanent Secretary, FCT, Tony Odey, challenged the management of the Hospital to provide a helipad facility in the Hospital to handle emergency situations, assuring them that the FCT Administration would continue to give them all the necessary support.

    Earlier, the Pro-Chancellor of Baze University, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba appealed to the Minister to revoke undeveloped plots of land around the University and re-allocate to more serious developers to give room for speedy development in the Territory.

    The Hospital which will be part of the Faculty of Medicine of Baze University is expected to be completed within 48 months.

     

  • Rotarians for foundation’s centennial’s forum

    Rotary International District 9110, comprising of Rotary Clubs in Lagos and Ogun states, is set to hold a historic annual conference at Green Legacy Resort, Abeokuta, Ogun State from Wednesday to Friday.

    This conference, which is tagged “Olumo 2017”, coincides with the 100th anniversary of The Rotary Foundation, which was established at the closing of Rotary International’s Annual Convention in the United States of America as an endowment in 1917 aimed at doing good around the world.

    According to the District Conference Planning Committee Chairman, Rotarian (Dr.) Olajide Akeredolu, this year’s conference will bring Rotarians from all the 98 clubs in the district together to celebrate the remarkable impacts made so far through humanitarian service projects funded by the Rotary Foundation over the years.

    “This year’s conference is not the first one, either in Abeokuta or other parts of the District. In fact, it is the 35th edition to be held by District 9110″, he said, adding that “what makes it unique and

    historic is that it marks the 100th year of the establishment of The Rotary Foundation, which calls for fond reflections on the good works done so far by Rotarians with the support of the Foundation as well as ample opportunity to reflect on the future”.

    Akeredolu said that the District Governor, Rotarian Patrick Ijehon Ikheloa has made frantic efforts to mobilise the over 2,500 Rotarians in the District, who are expected to attend in large number, especially going by the fact that over 800 Rotarians have registered for the conference.

    Some of the dignitaries expected to attend the Conference are representative of the Rotary International President, David Roper from  Rotary Club of Martinez-Evans, Georgia, USA, former Minister of Health, Past District Governor Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun and the Executive Director, Institute of Human Rights and Democratic Studies Joe Odumakin, who is the guest speaker.

  • Foundation inducts 100 youths into creative boot camp

    A GROUP Street Project Foundation has inducted 100 youths into its Creative Youth Boot Camp in Onikan, Lagos.

    Its founder/Chief Executive Officer Mrs Rita-Ezenwa-Okoro said while in camp, the youth would hone their skills in drama, visual arts, poetry, creative writing, spoken word, custom, dance, music, among others.

    ‘’The curriculum has been designed to empower young people with the skills necessary to turn their talent into an enterprise,’’ she said, adding that when idle youths were not engaged, a nation runs the risk of breeding criminals that would be threat to it.

    She said the trainees were picked from low-income groups, adding they were selected from a shortlist of 600, after a rigorous screening.

    She noted that the performing arts could be a thriving industry that creates wealth and jobs. ‘’The expected outcome is that our youths will start up a creative enterprise or get a job in the creative industry and will have a clear direction of what they want to achieve in life. We have proof of this, through some of the success stories of our ambassadors,’’ she said.

    She cited Josh Alfred, also called Joshfunny, an ambassador of the group, who was discovered as a comedian. After training and mentorship, is a now Social Media sensation.

    Mrs Ezenwa-Okoro argued that skills training that assist the youth to move from job seekers to job creators could reduce the rate of unemployment.

    Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment Permanent Secretary Dr Yakub Olajide Basorun said the government had floated a N25-billion Employment Trust Fund for Lagosians, urging the trainees to avail themselves of its numerous merits after their camping. He said one needed not know anyone before applying, saying any applicant stood the chance of being given a loan, if the conditions were met.

    United States Department of States Deputy Public Officer Frank Selin said his country was proud to be associated with Street Project Foundation, saying that the US sponsored some of the group’s programmes.

    He enjoined other groups to apply, if they needed help. He agreed that the training would help to reduce unemployment.

  • Foundation restores hope of jobless Bayelsans

    Foundation restores hope of jobless Bayelsans

    Victor Isiki has always looked for an opportunity to learn the art and science of paint production. Not satisfied as a mere painter, Isiki, who hails from Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, had wished to be an expert producer of paints, perhaps owning a manufacturing company.

    Coming from a poor background, Isiki, could not raise money to learn his favorite skill. He was once asked to pay N450,000 to learn the skill as an apprentice. At another time, Isiki was given a lower bill of about N150,000. Yet, he could not afford it. He gave up and resolved to continue his painting occupation.

    But his hope was rekindled recently when he heard of a training and skill acquisition programme organised in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, by the Robert Sunday Iworiso Foundation (RSIF) in conjunction with Helping Hands International (H2i), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO). He was thrilled when he went through the list of skills lined up by the two foundations.

    Paint production was one of them. Other skills were perfume, disinfectant and liquid soap production, cake baking and bead making. Isiki leapt up in joy when he heard that the skill acquisition training was free. Participants were only required to attend the programme with only their writing materials.

    Isiki learnt that Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the state Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, paid for the training in partnership with H2i. The CPS founded the RSIF in his efforts to immortalise his late father and keep his vision for humanity alive. Just like his late father, H2i and RSIF share the same vision of empowering people and making them financially independent.

    So, a team of H2i known as Success Icon and led by Mrs. Abigail Odiegwu, mobilised expert trainers on skills of interest from Lagos to Yenagoa. The training lasted for three days. It was painstaking.

    In fact, youths, elderly men and women dutifully attended the programme. The venue was congested with trainees, who came prepared to take advantage of the opportunity. It was indeed a busy period and Isiki attended all the programmes.

    The trainees were happy to listen to the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Development, Chief Saviour Ibegi, at the opening ceremony. Ibegi motivated them by going down memory lane to give them history of his humble beginning.

    Ibegi lauded the RSIF and H2i for the initiatives saying wealth creation remained the best way out of poverty. He recalled that the late Iworiso stood for hard-work and commended the CPS for sustaining the legacies of his late father.

    He said: “I knew the father of the chief press secretary. He was always found in the forest working. He was hardworking and he believed so much in empowering the people. This is the legacy his son is sustaining through his foundation. When you are good, your product will be good”.

    He said the skills acquired from the training were capable of transforming the beneficiaries into business moguls and advised the trainees to take their skills to the next levels.

    Addressing the trainees, he said: “See this as a big opportunity. From what you learn here, you can own a big manufacturing company. If a man comes up and asks you to create your own wealth, it looks impossible. It is just your mindset that will tel, you that it is impossible. But it works eventually. We have potential in all of you. Billionaires are wasting here”.

    The people listened attentively. But they were thrilled when Iworiso-Markson walked in and spoke to them. He gave them a brief history of his life and how he rose from Ajegunle, a notorious Lagos ghetto to prominence.

    He said he decided to engage and empower the youths and the jobless as the best way of honoring his late father. “I grew up in Ajegunle, but I made up my mind to work hard and here I am today”, he said.

    He said the late father worked very hard to train his children, but regretted he died when they needed him to enjoy the fruit of his labour. He told them that poverty remained the worst disease and charged them to break the shackles of want.

    Addressing them, he said: “If I can do it, you can do it too. Don’t be counted among the poor. Get rich for yourselves. There is nothing bad as having children and watching them thrown out of school because you cannot pay their school fees.

    “This is the reason why I partnered with H2i to bring this training to you. Today is your day of little beginning because in future you will be celebrated if you take this day seriously.

    “I am doing this in honour of my father because he was a very hardworking man. Today he is no more but I feel it is very important to keep his name alive by setting up this foundation to give back to the society just the same way he used to do.

    “I want to urge you not to allow your present situation to hinder you from getting to the top. There is no short cut to success so I appeal to you to be serious with this training. Don’t be counted among the poor”.

    The CPS promised to reward persons who came tops on their skills of choice. A  H2i Three-time Minister and Success Icon Leader, Mrs. Abigail Odiegwu, motivated the trainees.

    She said the training was motivated by a passion and love to empower people and make them self-reliant and financially independent. She said with such initiatives, the culture of begging would be eliminated in the society. According to her acquiring and applying basic skills would assist the government to diversify the economy.

    She thanked the CPS for the partnership and encouraged other NGOs, companies and spirited individuals to partner with H2i to eliminate poverty. She encouraged the trainees to apply their knowledge and become the solution to the diversifying the economy.

    “Instead of giving you fish, the chief press secretary in honour of his father has decided to teach you how to fish. The culture of begging will stop with this kind of initiative. We must commend the CPS for empowering the people”, she said.

    Also in his remarks, H2i Amabsaddor, Lucky Okpara, who was represented by the foundation’s Double Minister, Mr. Otega Samuel, said H2i was founded to help lift people from poverty and financial stress.

    He said the foundation renders humanitarian services, trade and skill acquisition, assets support services and scholarship services.

    Isiki listened and took up the challenge. He learnt paint production and on the last day of the event, he bought all the materials and decided to demonstrate what he learnt.

    The CPS, his wife and others in the audience watched as Isiki showcased his skills teaching them all the steps and stages of producing paints. He freely mentioned all the chemical names required in each process to the admiration of the crowd.

    “I was asked to pay a lot of money to learn this. But I have learnt it today without paying a dime. I will remain eternally grateful to the CPS and his foundation for this opportunity. The trainers from Helping Hands International did a great job”, he said.

    The CPS was moved and he immediately gave him a contract to produce paints for his three-bedroom bungalow. Others also came out to demonstrate the skills they learnt from the training. Many of them learnt liquid soap and perfume productions.

    Also of significance is Blessing Dirinagha. After the training, she started making and selling liquid soap and disinfectant. “I have started selling my products. I am grateful to the CPS and the H2i. Now, I am planning to go to Lagos to buy raw materials in large quantity to help me move my business forward”, she said.

  • Foundation to empower indigent women

    Ivory Whetstones Mentor Foundation, a non profit, non governmental organisation has concluded arrangement to empower some indigent members of the society, including women.

    The programme tagged: ‘Restoring Everything Damaged (R.E.D)’ is scheduled to hold on 30th April, 2017 at the SEE Events Centre, Lekki, Lagos.

    Justifying the need for he programme, its founder, Dr. Lawretta Emiakpor Ogrih said: “We want to give out to those women in need but we want to do this through a special comedy shows that will showcase many stars. This is the first time we are using comedy because we believe that the tension in the country needs a light heart free of worries’ and a cheerful face full of laughter  to make live better.”

    Expatiating, the philanthropist said: “Both life and business skills will be encouraged in putting those women back on their feet again. Nothing is too small or big to make any impact. This is why we are selling tickets to those coming to watch the comedy. And we took our time to look for good acts whose jokes can encourage one to dip hands into the pocket in other to wipe out those tears. Our belief is that a soul helped will be glad to help another tomorrow; or appreciate the value in helping others.”

  • Foundation holds conference

    Meadow Hall Foundation (MHF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Meadow Hall Group, will hold a two-day education convention next week Thursday.

    The event themed: ‘Transforming our society through education’, aims at bringing stakeholders together to discuss and learn new ways to advance the society through education. Aside, the two-day event would involve sub themes one of which would feature a mentor-mentee for educators at  Meadow Hall, Lekki, Lagos on the following day.

    “The education convention will provide networking opportunities for all participants to interact with educational experts, professional development for educators and personal development,” quoted a statement made available to The Nation.

    ” It is meant for parents to learn how to complement teachers’ efforts towards inspiring creativity in their children, as well as, discussions and direct feedback on educational issues. Stakeholders will learn how to help children achieve their highest potential towards societal development,” the statement added.

    The event, which holds at City Hall, Lagos Island, will have Former Minister of Education and former Vice President of the World Bank, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, as the keynote speaker. Other speakers include: CEO, Gemstone Group Mr. Fela Durotoye; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Education) Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh; as well as CEO, Meadow Hall Group Mrs. Kehinde Nwani.

    In a similar development, three million naira is till up for grabs at the forthcoming Inspirational Teacher of the Year and The Inspirational Head Teacher of the Year awards respectively.

    According to the Foundation which organises the event, participation is completely free and interested individuals still have an opportunity to log on the organiser’s website-www.inseawards.org. to nominate the best teacher and head teacher of their choice.

    The organiser stated that the award ‘recognises, rewards, and promotes excellence in the teaching profession.’

    The best inspirational teacher nationwide gets one million naira, while the inspirational head teacher which may also include headmaster, headmistress or principal, clinches two million naira at a grand event scheduled to hold later this month.

    Meadow Hall Foundation is a non-profit body borne out of a need to improve the educational outcomes of the Nigerian child.

  • Foundation makes case for widows

    No fewer than 200 widows of Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State have been empowered by the Dayo Eleku Foundation and Octagon Initiative. The groups provided food items, cash and scholarships for their children.

    The event tagged “The Strength of a Widow’’, according to Adedayo Akindele Eleku, the initiator of the foundation, was part of activities lined up to mark his birthday and the foundation’s fifth anniversary.

    He said giving succor to the less-privileged people in the society feel and giving them a sense of belonging informed the establishment of the foundation. He stressed that there was need for the society to help widows in the task of bringing up their children.

    Eleku, also the state Secretary, Amalgamated Motorcycle Riders of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, said the widows needed to be celebrated and respected, noting that it was why  he decided to celebrate his birthday with them rather than do so with friends at a beer/pepper soup joint.

    The Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Oladele Adeniji, commended Mr. Eleku for his gesture, even as he urged Nigerians to emulate him.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Rashidat Akinlosose thanked the initiator for the gesture, saying she was delighted about the programme. She prayed that God would continue to bless and give him long life.

    The guest speaker, Mr Adekanmi Fadare, said widowhood was not restricted to only those who were already widows. “It is a phenomenon that will continue to be witnessed in every society,’’ he said.

    He said marriage is a blessing and that a couple would rather strive to be successful in their relationship.

    “It is, however, important that before going ahead with such a life-time relationship, we must have prepared ourselves for the good, the bad and all other such outcomes that are associated with marriages,’’ he said.

    Fadare, an Assistant Editor at Octagon Magazine, decried the rate at which widows are maltreated in the society, adding that it is frightening. According to him, Nigeria has over eight million widows with about 23 million children.

    “It is heartbreaking seeing what widows in Nigeria go through. What I mean is that this is what we all see every day and everywhere in our society. From one part of the society to another, there is always a widow close to us, hence the awareness of the inhumane treatment meted out to this class of unfortunate people.

    “Because customs allowed a lot of these things, it is fast becoming an unbearable yoke. I believe this defines religions because sometimes people will merge tradition and religion. When you examine religion, tradition and human dignity, people with conscience would then start to think that these things are not proper because widows are either someone’s mother, sister or daughter.

    “So, we believe it is something we need to add our voices to, and apart from trying to lend our voices and other support efforts, we  think if others begin to condemn the act and desist from practising them, then the time to end the obnoxious custom may have come.’’

    Continuing, he said: “When you talk about widowhood in Nigeria, the problem is much bigger than anyone can imagine, and unfortunately we also discovered that most of the children of some widows have dropped out of school upon the death of their bread winners.

    “To ensure that most of them go back to school, people should assist them financially. Other areas that will be of benefit to the widows are the establishment of medical scheme to support some of their children, donation of food and other materials.’’

    Fadare said the best way to encourage widows is for the wealthy individuals, society, religious bodies, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to regularly organise programmes for them. He suggested that loans, grants or empowerment schemes be offered to widows, adding that efforts should be made to encourage them to start some trade.

    “If such grant is coming as a start-up; there must be close supervision. Although I strongly believe a widow would put such money into something good rather than squander it, when you give more than 10 people money, there are tendencies that one or two may not make good use of it.

    Thus, regular monitoring is necessary, so that most of them can have access to good life. For instance, I have come across a widow that was given N300, 000 barely a year ago and now she has increase it to over N1 million. That was cheery enough. And the organisation that gave the money would be encouraged to do even more for others,’’ he added.

    Fadare urged widows not to allow anybody to trample on their rights. “A widow has rights to basic amenities, normal life, their deceased spouses’ property and estate and to inheritance. However, it goes beyond just fighting for your rights as a widow.’’ He traced their problems to mere ignorance.’’

    He praised Dayo Eleku Foundation for its “End Widows’ Maltreatment Campaign’’.

    “Once we are able to end the maltreatment,” he said, “all other things would become non-issue. When people stop maltreating widows by denying them of their right to inheritance, our society would be better for it. When we start to experience a situation where we can abolish maltreatment of widows, then every other thing would be sorted out.

    “Then, the widow will no longer be maltreated or ejected from the house where she struggled to build with her husband or denied the happiness of living a normal life with or without a child,’’ he said.

    The guest speaker urged the government, traditional rulers, chiefs, village heads and community leaders as well as politicians to assist widows.

    He said the process of eliminating obnoxious customs goes beyond sending a bill to the National Assembly.

     

  • Foundation backs education development

    Youris Olatunji Bashorun Education Foundation, (YOBEF), has declared its support for the promotion of quality education for Nigerians.

    The foundation, as part of its support, has consecutively held the annual quiz competition for selected schools across the six education districts in Lagos State.

    Speaking at the grand finale of this year’s competition held at Isolo, Mr. Yakub Bashorun, son of the late Olatunji Bashorun who the Foundation is named after, said the initiative had over the years produced awardees whose academic performances remained reference points among their peers.

    Bashorun, who is Lagos State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment, provides scholarship awards to indigent students from Isolo Local Government.

    He expressed the belief that if relevant stakeholders identified with the education sector, such support would inspire students for improved academic performance and healthy rivalry.

    Bashorun further said YOBEF has also decided to expand its scope to accommodate sponsorship of result-oriented school teachers to pursue post-graduate degrees.

    He urged participants at the competition to leverage on the opportunity to strive for the best in their academic pursuit.

    From the four schools that contested for the first, second and third positions Ansar-ud-Deen Senior College, Isolo emerged the overall winner followed by Ansar-ud-Deen Girls’Senior High School, Itire and  Ansar-ud-Deen Comprehensive Senior High School, Okota which emerged first and second runners up, while Zumratul-Islamiyyah Senior High School, Yaba, came fourth.

  • Foundation gives 50 Abia students scholarships

    Foundation gives 50 Abia students scholarships

    FOR the over 50 students who gathered for the ceremony, the day will be etched in their memory. It was a day they had  long waited for. They were full of joy as they stepped out to receive full scholarship for their university education.

    Joy Okpanku, a first year student of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Umudike, Abia State was among them. The students from the 17 local government areas of Abia State were given scholarships worth millions of naira by the Adiaso Foundation.

    The ceremony took place at the country home of Chief Chamberline Okechukwu Adiaso in Obichukwu, Obieketta autonomous community in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of the state.

    It was like a carnival as students, high profile politicians and people from all walks of life gathered at the foundation’s instance in support of higher education.

    Eze Charles Nwamaranna, the traditional ruler of Obieketta and Chairman of the Adiaso Foundation, urged unlucky applicants to wait for another opportunity in subsequent batches of the yearly scheme.

    The scheme, he said, was meant to encourage youths, irrespective of their political orientation or religious background, to actualise their dreams of acquiring higher education.

    Nwamaranna praised the foundation’s sponsor for giving back to the society. “He takes delight in humanitarian services,’’ he said, adding that his footprints have been stamped on grading of roads across his local government area, provision of grants to selected farmers in the state and the provision of free healthcare services to women in the state.

    Adiaso said he derived joy from  helping the needy because there were families that could not train their children in higher institutions.

    He said he has several foundations catering to the need of the less privileged.

    ‘’The two most important things in mylife are my love for God and the downtrodden,’’ he said, adding: “I am worried by the high level of illiteracy in our society and I am determined to help as many people as possible to overcome this debilitating challenge,”

    The philanthropist said he shared some of the traits of President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he said is respected for his honesty. He said: “I am emulating the leadership qualities of President Buhari. He is one president that is not interested in the accumulation of material possessions, but has placed his emphasis on changing the fortunes of the country for the good of all Nigerians.

    Adiaso urged Nigerians to continue to pray for Buhari’s success. “We should not relent in praying that God will grant our President the strength and good health to be able to carry on with his change agenda for the country.’’

    Director-General of Think Nigeria First Initiative, Alhaji Abubakar Tsanni, said Adiaso had done so much for his people, especially in the area of education and agriculture.

    Chairman of the occasion, Chief Allen Nwachukwu praised Adiaso stating: “If we have many people like Chamberline Adiaso in the state, Abia will be like a small London.”

    Abia State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Donatus Nwamkpa, said he was not surprised by Adiaso’s philanthropy, noting: “His thinking always is how he can improve the social and economic life of the less-privileged. He is a man driven by the passion to render service to the people.

    He has demonstrated this in several ways in the past, especially when he donated N100 million to farmers in Abia State.”

    Joy’s father Eze Paul Okpanku said the foundation had helped many in meeting their needs.