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Tag: Ozolua

  • Why we evacuated 478 malnourished kids from Bama, by Ozolua

    The Founder and Chair, Empower54, Princess Modupe Ozolua, yesterday explained that her organisation evacuated over 478 children from Bama, Borno State, because of their critical health condition.

    Ozolua said she alerted the Borno State government immediately she discovered about 550 malnourished children in Bama. The government then directed that the children be moved to Maiduguri for adequate attention.

    She added that a total of 1,800 persons were evacuated from Bama in collaboration with the state government.

    Her words: “On June 13, the first evacuation took place. We went to Bama and evacuated 478 children and family members. Of course, not all of them were sick. Maybe in a family of seven children, one was malnourished. There were 478 malnourished children. By the time the second evacuation was over, the total number of malnourished was 550.

    “We discussed with our medical team and they said the best thing to do was to evacuate those children. Immediately we informed the governor of our findings, he directed that we evacuate them to Maiduguri.

    “The total number of people that were moved, you have the sick children, and then the healthy family members, is 1,800 in all. The evacuation was funded by the state government. It paid, it was its buses, its facilities and it fed them.”

    Ozolua, whose team is planning to return to the war torn region, said plans are underway to establish four nutritional centres closer to some of the IDPs camps.

    The plan, she said, was to evacuate those who need extreme care to the four centres.

    Ozolua, who said her team had been receiving assistance from well-meaning Nigerians, called for more support to improve the lives of those evacuated.

    “Since we posted pictures on social media, a lot of people have been supporting us financially, and sending clothes. Several companies have donated nutritional items.”

    She, however, denied reports by doctors across borders that 200 children died of malnutrition.

    “We saw the grave where people are being buried since the conception of that camp. We saw the death record. When the report came out I was shocked because at no point in time were we told that 200 children died.

    “We saw the grave site and based on what my people told me, there were 300-plus graves. People die for different reasons- the report by MSF that 200 children died from starvation is surprising to me. Borno state will not stage a food donation because of us,” Ozolua added.

  • Ozolua raises funds in USA for IDPs

    Ozolua raises funds in USA for IDPs

    Empower54 is taking its “Rise Above Terror” campaign to Atlanta, United States of America as a means of raising more money to meet the needs of the millions of Internally Displaced Persons in the Northeastern Nigeria, Princess Modupe Ozolua has said.

    The event which will feature photographic exhibition of communities destroyed by Boko Haram and life in IDP camps in Nigeria is slated for December, in Atlanta, United States of America.

    Ozolua, founder of Empower54, formerly known as BEARS Foundation, is an organisation that has been actively helping underprivileged Africans since 2003. Its campaign, Rise Above Terror, has been empowering women in the IDP camps in Nigeria to be self-sufficient and building schools for displaced children. Empower54 has established schools in IDP camps in Adamawa and Borno States and has completed the renovation of a 6 class school building in Askira-Uba, Adamawa State that was destroyed by Boko Haram.

    The Atlanta, GA event comes against the background of the “Rise Above Terror…What Happens Next?” diplomatic cocktail and art auction which took place earlier this month in the Federal Capital City of Abuja.

    Ozolua’s Abuja exhibition event which was an innovative way of raising funds for the IDPs’ needs featured artworks donated by renowned artists like: Okwwoju El-Dragg Leonard, Damola Adepoju, Bimbo Adenuga, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, Abdurazaq Ahmed Akibu and Dimeji Alara.

    Others were: Shonibare Olatunbosun, Amarachi Kelechi, Seyi Morakinyo, Stanley Anyanwu, Olufemi Oyewole and Okpeyowa Moses Marquis.

    The artworks were auctioned to diplomatic Ambassadors, country representatives of donor agencies, top Nigerian Government officials and special guests.

    At the Abuja event, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila applauded the initiative, adding that the National Assembly is ready to partner with the organisation in the fight against terror.

    His words: “Terrorism is an issue of concern to the global community today, and as we can see, Nigeria is not an exception. We have lost too many lives and valuable property to acts of irresponsible killings by members of the terrorist sects and the present administration is doing all it can to ensure that terrorism become history in Nigeria.

    “We at the National Assembly join in the Rise Above Terror campaign, and we will continue to do everything within the legal,instrument available to us to support your cause. The importance of rehabilitation of victims of terrorism is clear to all.”

    According to Ozolua “the USA event would also showcase an exhibition of donated paintings from Nigerian painters to support Empower54’s rebuilding of schools destroyed by Boko Haram and establishing schools in the IDP camps.”

    Already, the Mayor of the City of Atlanta, Kasim Reed, has expressed the readiness of the City to host the December event.

  • AS MODUPE OZOLUA TURNS 42

    AS MODUPE OZOLUA TURNS 42

    TO many, the name Modupe Ozolua represents different things. To some, she is the plastic surgery lady; to others she is Nigeria’s Angel of Mercy. In actuality, she is both.

    On October 10th, she turned 42years and some are in disbelief at how young she actually is considering she has been in the spot light for 11 years. She was just 27years old when she pioneered cosmetic surgery in West Africa. At 29, she became fully involved in charity and started her philanthropy activities in Africa.

    Ironically, although people think they know everything about her, they don’t. For a woman in national and international spotlight, little facts are known of her.

    So, who is Modupe Ozolua? She is the last child of her parents. She isn’t mixed race as many assume. Both parents were from Edo State. As a direct descendant of the legendary Oba of Benin, Oba Ozolua whom Queen Idia was married to, Modupe Ozolua is a true Benin Princess. Her primary and secondary education was in Nigeria while she went to university in America.

    While in Los Angeles, California, Modupe was married at 21, had her son at 22 years and divorced his father when she 23. She single-handedly raised her son, Seun, who is now 20 years old and studying in a university abroad. She is Nigerian and a US citizen.

    Apart from her cosmetic surgery business, Body Enhancement Ltd, which put Nigeria on the list of countries offering Cosmetic surgery in the world, she has other businesses in Nigeria and Asia.

    When asked to describe herself, she said; “I am a very simple, down-to-earth and fun loving person, but at the same time, I am very complicated. My father, whom I loved to death and idolized, was a disciplinarian and I take after him. I don’t understand or accept incompetence. I always demand the best from others and myself; those that are lazy and full of drama can’t stay around me for long. I am very practical and truthful to a fault.

    “Every year, I come full circle with who I am and who I want to be. I keep re-inventing myself to be my definition of becoming a better person. Sometimes I forget my age because I feel I have lived so many life times! Reflecting on my life so far, yes, there are some things I could and should have done differently, but then, if I did I wouldn’t be who I am today.

    I have had my share of joys and pains, gains and losses, but that’s nothing new. We all have. The painful experiences remind us we are not immune to the harshness of life. It’s ok. After all, we are only human.

    “I thank God for everything, the tears, laughter, ups and downs, wonderful family, friends and everything in between.

    “As for marriage, I will do that again when I meet the man who is confident enough to know that my accomplishments shouldn’t intimidate him to feel less of the man he should be. Until then, I am happily single and enjoying every day’s glorious experience.”

  • Social Entrepreneur Ozolua helps IDPs

    Social Entrepreneur Ozolua helps IDPs

    But for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and well-meaning individuals, life would have been a lot tougher for people forced to flee their homes by Boko Haram insurgents. Large parts of the Northeast were once overrun by the extremists, who sacked kings and subjects alike and formalised the takeover by unfurling their black flags.

    That was not all. Apart from the grief of losing their loved ones to the invaders, fleeing survivors have suffered all manners of horrors and indignities. For some, living with relatives has its dark sides. For others in camps, life has been a mixed bag. Everything from food to clothing, medicaments, sleeping places, has been in short supply.

    Such organisations as Empower54, founded by body enhancement expert and philant-ropist  Modupe Ozolua have ensured that things do not get much worse.

    Empower54 provides rehabilitation opportunities for internally displaced women and children, giving them much-needed medicaments, food, jobs tools and education, among others. As people grieved over their killed relatives, Empower54 soothed hearts. Where they worried about what to eat or wear, the NGO met their needs. Where they despaired over the academic future of their children Ozolua’s organisation provided education alongside study materials.

    The beauty expert said, “Empower54  is  a  non- profit  organisation  dedicated  to  providing  desperately  needed  humanitarian  assistance  such  as  medical  missions,  hunger  eradication,  educational,  women/girl  empowerment  and  refugee  programmes  to  underprivileged  Africans.

    “We need the world to understand the urgency and sensitivity of this situation and support us achieve our goals in rehabilitating internally displaced women and children in Nigeria. This crisis concerns everyone. It’s not a religious or tribal issue; it’s a humanity issue

    “Donation  from well meaning individuals provides  urgently  needed  supplies/tools  that  will  enable  survivors  of  Boko  Haram  to  Rise  Above  Terror  and  become  self- sufficient  by  practicing  meaningful  trades,  which  will  enable  them  rebuild  their  homes,  fend  for  themselves  and  their  families  and  put  their  children  in  schools.”

    She also added that, “Since January 2015, Empower54 under the umbrella of Body Enhancement Foundation has empowered over 200 internally displaced women by making them self-sufficient through skills they had prior to displacement.

    “Such as giving them sewing machines, money for trade, resources for farming, local oil processing, materials for traditional weavers, rented homes.

    Empower54, which is also registered in the US, also creates schools at IDP camps for internally displaced children in the North East states of Gombe, Adamawa and Borno States. The children are given uniforms, shoes, writing materials; teachers were hired and paid monthly by the organization.

    As part of Empower54’s “Rise Above Terror” campaign to rehabilitate internally displaced women and children; we have gone on numerous dangerous tours of some communities destroyed by Boko Haram in Adamawa and Borno States.

    “The objectives of the tours are to properly estimate the extent of damages done to homes by Boko Haram and configure that into its existing empowerment and educational programs for the IDPs.

    “Some communities visited are: Adamawa State: Yola, Mubi, and Mararaba-Mubi, Mishara, Shuwakalaa. In Borno State: Uba, Michika, Kuma, Askira-Uba, Bazza, Kuzum, Dilchim, Lassa, Dille, Maiduguri, Bama, Conduga, Mangoro and Gowza.

     

  • Ozolua seeks $800,000 for mobile surgery facility

    Ozolua seeks $800,000 for mobile surgery facility

    As part of efforts to provide free surgery to the less-privileged, founder of the Body Enhancement Foundation, Princess Modupe Ozolua, is seeking support to acquire a $800,000 mobile medical facility.

    The mobile surgery unit that has two fully equipped theatre compartments is expected to provide medical supports to victims in rural areas.

    Ozolua, while briefing media executives in Abuja during the week yesterday, noted that since inception, the foundation has restored lives of about 11, 000 people with various forms of deformity.

    While she debunked insinuations that her kind gestures were motivated by political motives, Ozolua noted that her philanthropic activities became imperative considering the population of those who could not access expensive surgeries.

    “The essence of acquiring this mobile surgical facility is because some of the hospitals are not well equipped to meet up with the need of the less-privileged people in the country.

    “We fly in medical experts from abroad to treat these victims. We have done it in Edo, we are doing it in Bayelsa next month and by January we will visit Kano. So we need supports from all the relevant stakeholders,” Ozolua said.

    On the possibility of future political ambition, Ozolua said politics was not in her nature.

    “I am not a politician, and I am not interested in politics. I have been doing this for years now.

    “I don’t have the intention of going into politics. Already I am serving my country in my own way and I am satisfied with that.

    “It is not true to say politicians hijacked our event in Edo, but I want to say that we can not stop politicians who want to contribute to our cause, irrespective if their political affiliations.

    “Everyone wants to identify with good causes, so we won’t stop those that want to help our cause and our activities are not limited to any geo-political zone”, she said.

  • Drama as Ozolua fed 5,000 families in Edo

    Drama as Ozolua fed 5,000 families in Edo

    It was a purely charity event. But, since many are used to potential public office seekers engaging in empowerment programme, it was almost mistaken as having political undertone.

    Princess Modupe Ozolua, through Body Enhancement Foundation, just chose to touch the lives of the ordinary folks in Owan Local Government of Edo State.  September 25 was the day. The event witnessed a lot of drama which Ozolua never envisaged, but gave her a better understanding of the poverty level in the area.

    Prior to the foundation’s arrival for the distribution ceremony, some mischievous people had tried to hijack the programme by announcing to the villagers that a political party was donating the items.

    During her speech at the programme in Sabongidda-Ora, Ozolua said she is not a politician, does not belong to any political party and is not interested in running for any political office. She was also clear that the programme was not sponsored by any political party.

    Her announcement was received with loud cheers, clapping and dancing by the crowd of over 5,000 men and women.

    Ms Ozolua said she only carried the Owan West Local Government Council along since the event was holding in the area.

    The ceremony was well attended by traditional rulers and high chiefs from all parts of the local government.

    The foundation made a donation of 800 50kg bags of rice, 660 bottles of vegetable oil, 4,000 packs of salt, 2,400 packs of Indomie donated by Dufil Group and medication donated by DANA Group.

    Princess Ozolua also announced that the food and drugs scheme was not exclusive to Edo State. The foundation conducts the  programme every two months in different parts of Nigeria. The process of selecting the location to go is done by putting names of all the states in a bowl and holding an in-house raffle draw among  members of the foundation’s staff.

    According to Ms Ozolua, her father was from Sabongidda-Ora and the maiden edition of the food and drugs was held in her local government. She said the foundation would not be returning to Edo again for food donations until all other states have benefited.

    Over 5,000 families benefited from the donations. They came from all over the local government.

    Ms Ozolua was very active in the distribution and was seen standing on a huge pile of bags of rice with a microphone coordinating the distribution. Each clan came forward with representatives to collect 100 bags of rice, 25 cartons of Indomie, and so on, which they proceeded to share among their people.

    Significantly, despite heavy security at the venue, there was a near stampede at the event,  a development which shows how hungry and desperate people are.

    According to witnesses, all was going smoothly before lack of trust, desperation and hunger turned clan members against one another. Before long, a row over sharing ratio broke out and fights erupted. In the struggle for food, men and women tossed one another aside like toys. Women started beating weaker men to take the items from them. Women abandoned their children in the crowd so they could fight over bottles of oil.

    Men punched women as though they were in the wrestling ring. Women bit men. Old women given bags of rice were waylaid on their way home by young ones and their foods taken away from them.

    Heavily expectant women fought men and other women over bags of rice and salt. Bags of rice were ripped with bare hands and people got on their knees struggling to pack rice mixed with sand, stones and grass to take home and cook. It was a sad struggle for survival.

    Suddenly, the crowd lunged at the remaining stacks of foods to be donated that were surrounded by members of the foundation and Ms Ozolua. Stacks of rice she was standing on were pulled from under her feet, almost knocking her over. She sustained a cut on her thigh. Her Personal Assistant was knocked flat to the ground. Some of her male employees were thrown over stacks of rice, while others were busy trying to protect her and separate people fighting.

    A source said: “The security agents were torn between keeping order and fighting for food! It is said that even when the mob stampeded the food, they were shouting prayers of gratitude for the foundation and its president.”

    Eventually, the mob was subdued, distribution continued, and fortunately no one sustained any serious injury. Witnesses said Ms Ozolua and her staff handled the incident professionally and with understanding.

    A source said Ms Ozolua  at a point laughed and said she was thankful the foundation was able to help those they sought out to help.

    “Long before the brief disruption to the distribution process, the physically handicapped, widows, orphans and elderly had received their share of the donations,” said a source.

    Although she was shocked at how people fought one another for food, she was not upset because it simply showed there was hunger in the land.