The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Philanthropist

  • Philanthropist helps Ebonyi community

    Philanthropist helps Ebonyi community

    A businessman and philanthropist, Chief Chibuike Orogwu has lifted the spirits of his kinsfolk in Amudo, Ezza South Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He provide them work tools, wheelchairs, rice, cash and paid the hospital bills of the needy. He was said to have spent millions of naira.

    He also spent over N2million on a tournament in which the oldest participant, Emmanuel Aduke, was given N300,000.

    •Pa Jacob’s old thatch house
    •Pa Jacob’s old thatch house

    That was not all. Orogwu is equally building a house for a needy man Jacob Ogbene who lives in a mud shelter.

    “The man has been living in a mud house which is dilapidated and may cave in at anytime. So I decided to build the bungalow to protect him from the elements,” Orogwu said.

    The house is nearing completion and will soon be dedicated and handed over to Pa Ogbene.

    On why he is dedicating his life to helping the less privileged, the philanthropist said he has the burning desire to help people because people also helped him to achieve success in his business.

    •Pa Jacob’s new house nearing completion
    •Pa Jacob’s new house nearing completion

    So I have to help the people to also be comfortable and to also uplift their living standard. If people didn’t support me, maybe I wouldn’t be here today to help others. So any little way I can help others I will do so.

    “I am not a politician, I don’t give for you to vote for me, I’m not aspiring for any post and I don’t give because I’m the richest but I suffered and each time I see people I’m better than I do my best to identify with them.”

    Orogwu’s road to fortune was rough. He was once unable to pay rent or fend for his family. He drove a commercial bus with his wife as conductor. In the mid 1990s he started a business making drinks, relying on funds his brother provided, in addition to  N19,000 he saved. His business thrived as his drinks were sold in most states of the country and several African countries as well.

    Some of the beneficiaries thanked the business mogul for his support.

     

  • Philanthropist pays WASSCE fees

    About 19 students of Seventh Day Adventist Grammar School, Ile-Ife benefited from the philanthropic gesture of the Maye of Ife, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, as he presented a cheque of N274,550 to pay for their West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) fees.

    The students who were at the Polytechnic, Ile-Ife to appeal to the proprietor due their inability to pay for the examination could not hide their joy.  They left the institution premises praying for long life and continuous blessing for their benefactor.

    Speaking during the presentation, Adedoyin charged the students to face their studies and imbibe the culture of hard work and good moral so that they can become good leaders of tomorrow.

    He described education of the youth as one the best legacies any society can bequeath the leaders of tomorrow.

  • Philanthropist donates building to NASFAT varsity

    Philanthropist donates building to NASFAT varsity

    A philanthropist and President-General of Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Alhaji Sakariyau Babalola, has donated an administrative building to Fountain University in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    Signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Lagos, last Tuesday, Babalola said it was in support of the university’s development. The school was founded by the Nasrul-Lahi-l-Fatih Society of Nigeria, (NASFAT).

    Babalola said: “Fountain University is foremost Islamic-oriented higher institution. As Muslims, we have a duty to support the laudable project. I believe this donation would be an inspiration to other Muslims to contribute whatever they have to sustain the school. It gladdens my heart when I discovered the moral teaching being imparted on students.”

    The MUSWEN president urged contractor handling the project to finish on the agreed time, saying the structure was needed to be in place to enable smooth administration of the school.

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Bashir Raji, said he was elated by the Babalola’s gesture, saying: “It is rare to see an individual committing huge amount of money for the development of an institution. We will encourage such gesture, because we don’t enjoy government’s subvention.”

    According to the VC, the school does not only belong to NASFAT, but to all Muslims. The building, he said, would accommodate the offices of the VC, Registrar and Bursar, among others.

    Raji said the management would commission some project, including the senate building, next month to mark the 21st anniversary of NASFAT and convocation.

    The VC emphasised the need for more Islam-based universities, saying the current four mission schools are owned by individuals.

  • Philanthropist lends helping hand to the needy

    Philanthropist lends helping hand to the needy

    Bothered by the level of poverty and lack of education in his community, a United States-based philanthropist, Mr Dim Dennis Damian Anugwom has established a foundation through which he would empower the people of Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State. Known as Duke of Nigeria Foundation (DNF), its primary focus is empowerment of widows, widowers and students.

    Speaking to reporters in Lagos on Friday on why he established the foundation, Mr Anugwom said: “Public-spirited individuals should always have a thought for widows and orphans.”

    On his contributions to the welfare of the downtrodden, especially widows, Mr Anugwom who described himself as a community person, lamented the level of poverty in the land despite that the country is rich in both human and natural resources. He said the works of the foundation in empowering the poor are purely humanitarian.

    He said this informed the foundation’s reach-out to some people in his community last year. He said: “We noticed that many of our people are idle because they do not have the resources to start a trade or send their children/wards to school. Those whose husbands are no more need help. That was why the Duke of Nigeria Foundation gave out various sums of money to 22 widows, 11 widowers and 24 scholarships for students in secondary and tertiary institutions. The essence of the gesture was to enable the people to set up businesses that would help them to enhance the well-being of members of their families. In all, the foundation gave out more than N15 million.

    “The foundation also distributed about 100 bags of rice and other gift items to those who need them. Another area the foundation focused was health needs of the people. For now, we have not established fully-fledged health care scheme for the people, but in the interim, the foundation picked hospital bills of about 30 patients at St Mary’s Catholic Children Community Hospital, Umuowa.

    He said: “The condition of the poor in this country bothers me as it bothers everybody. Nigeria is a rich country peopled by a majority poor. With the grim realities on ground and with the realisation of that fact, people are now coming together to ask questions on why the situation has been so and when will it end. But it is not enough to be bothered but enough to proffer solutions.”

    Mr Anugwom’s love for the less-privileged persons in the society has fired his zeal to empower them in several ways.

    He revealed that the establishment of Duke of Nigeria Foundation was borne out of the need to empower the needy, especially the widows.

    He said: “The issue of widowhood is a pathetic one. What we did was to get them together and give them help and hope. The essence is to make them understand that the death of their husbands does not mean the end of their lives. They have a life to live and they have children to cater for.

    This we did by giving them certain amount of money to start petty trading, at least. We didn’t want to give them fish continually but to teach them how to fish so that any time they are in need of fish, they could get some for themselves.”

    On what the society should do to better the lives of the downtrodden, Mr Anugwom, who was honoured by the Igbo Community in 2007 in Lagos with the title of Duke of Nigeria in recognition of his various humanitarian works said: “The society knows that it has not done much for the poor in Nigeria and there are categories of less-privileged persons. The society is even taking proper care of those whose situations are not so pitiable. So, we have a society that cares less because, here everybody is on his own; only God for us all. This phenomenon promotes a mentality where everybody is hustling and those who have lost their husbands to death or those who have lost their fathers or mothers are more in worst situation than those people who can argue their cases or try to redress their situations.

    “The society actually should do more than we are doing now. I think when that happens; the mentality of people towards life would change.”

    On what the well-to-do should do to alleviate the sufferings of the poor, Mr Anugwom said those who are rich but care less about those in their environment, should have a change of heart because for the rich to live peacefully, they must seriously and sincerely work for the peace of the poor.

    “So, the wealth and welfare of the poor is in the hands of the rich, but the peace of mind of the rich is in the hands of the poor. When God gives one wealth, it does not indicate that one is the most handsome, brilliant or intelligent. One may not be the most hardworking, but it is for a purpose.

    “One is holding it in trust for those He did not give wealth but blessed in some other ways. As He keeps blessing one, one must keep taking care of the less-privileged.”

  • Philanthropist remembers wives of slain policemen

    Philanthropist remembers wives of slain policemen

    The atmosphere was sober, yet there was excitement in the air at the police headquarters, Owerri, Imo State when a concerned indigene of the state, Nze Franklin Iwunze, extended his empowerment programme and love to the wives of slain policemen in the area.

    The widows, who were about 30 in number, sang and drummed while welcoming their host.

    Apart from the women, the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, accompanied by other top brass of the force, were on hand to receive Nze Iwunze.

    Addressing the gathering, Nze Iwunze, the Ogbuagu of Nkwerre, said he was touched by the death of policemen who paid the supreme price and sacrificed their lives in defence of the nation.

    He stated that although he invited the women to empower them financially, the widows needed the support of all Nigerians to survive and give their children quality education.

    He stressed that former British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill once said “we make a living by what we get and make a life by what we give”.

    The philanthropist said: “It’s not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving. I must be willing to give whatever it takes to enhance the well-being of others.

    “We are here in the spirit of the Yuletide to appreciate the families left behind by our fallen heroes who gave all they had for this country, laid down their lives in the quest to provide for us a habitable society, safe and secure for us to live in happily.”

    Nze Iwunze, who  stopped short of weeping as he spoke to the widows, said: “Your husbands have done their best. We cannot bring them back to life, but the greatest thing we can do for them is to always appreciate the families they left behind and show them love.”

    Speaking at the event, Lakanu commended the benevolent spirit of Nze Iwunze, pointing out that in his many years of service as a police officer; he had not seen anyone who thought it wise to remember widows of slain police officers, especially during periods of festivity. He enjoined other public-spirited individuals in the country to borrow a leaf from the Ogbuagu of Nkwerre.

    Responding on behalf of the widows, the Welfare Officer of the Police Officers’ Wives’ Association (POWA), Imo State Police Command, Mrs. Angela Chinweuba, praised Nze Iwunze for his kindness and demonstration of love.

    Mrs. Chinweuba said Nze Iwunze had set a record for being the first person or group in Imo State to remember wives of policemen who lost their lives in active service. She prayed God to reward him abundantly with good health and more resources.

    Highlight of the event was the official hand over of cash gifts and 80  bags of rice to Lakanu by Nze Iwunze for the widows. The donor said he hoped the cash gifts would assist the women to provide quality education for their children.

  • Unknown philanthropist makes Christmas merry for Abuja IDPs

    IN Abuja, some individuals and groups ensured that internally displaced persons in the nation’s capital city celebrated Christmas with merriments. For instance, a non-governmental organisation known as Hope for all Foundation collaborated with a philanthropist called Mama IDP to adopt five IDP camps in Abuja where they tried to put smiles on the faces of the refugees.

    Mama IDP, who is widely known among Abuja IDPs but always refuses to reveal her real name to the media, spent the holidays from December 21 to December 25 with the IDPs at Durumi, Karamajiji, Dakwo, Kabusa and Dutse along Lokogoma.

    At the Durumi camp, about 1,400 IDPs were fed along with other families around Abuja who rallied around to ensure that Christmas Day at the camp was spent with enough food in the bellies of the displaced people. About 400 bags of 5kg rice and assorted drinks were also distributed at the camp.

    At the Dakwo camp, 250 IDPs were fed on Boxing Day with 100 bags of 5kg rice distributed, while at the Dutse camp, 100 people were fed with the distribution of 40 bags of 5kg rice.

    Things were a bit different at the Kabusa and Karamajiji camps. At the Kabusa camp, the group was unable to feed the huge number of IDPs at the camp. To avoid a stampede, the adults agreed to allow the children to be fed, making it possible for the group to feed 400 children at the camp.

    Explaining the situation to The Nation, Mama IDP said: “We would have loved to feed everybody like we did in most of the other camps but the crowd here is huge and we do not have that much.

    “It is most unfortunate that we would not be distributing the bags of 5kg rice like we have done in most of the camps because of lack of resources. To feed everyone and distribute raw rice, we will need about 2,000 bags of rice, which we do not have.”

    They visited the Karamajiji camp on three different occasions during the season with three different group—Victims Over Violence (VOV) which sunk a borehole at the Karamajiji camp to ease water problems in the camp; Like Minds, which brought the relief materials, and the students of ICS Schools Abuja who visited the camp with rice, yams and other food items.

    An IDP at the Durumi Camp, Hajara Yusuf, told The Nation that life would have been more difficult without help from well-meaning Nigerians.

    She said: “We were really excited with the food and the way people came out to celebrate with us. It was really good to be able to celebrate Christmas even though we are far away from home. Knowing full well that people enjoy celebrating Christmas a lot with their families, giving that up to spend their time with us means a lot. It just proves that most Nigerians are very humane and considerate to the sufferings of fellow Nigerians.”

    But the coordinator, Ending Terrorism and the Restoration of Our Ancestral Homeland, Northeast, Nigeria (ETRAHN), Engr. Baba Oliver, lamented that although a lot of people were willing and came out to assist the IDP’s, a lot of them were unwilling to go to the camps that were far away from the Abuja city centre, denying those in the interiors the benefits as well.

    He said: “A lot of the IDP camps in Abuja were left out during this celebration. I can tell you that not up to 10 camps benefited from the assistance that was rendered during this season because people around the city centres focused more on the camps that are close Waru, Wassa and new Kuchingoro.

    “Even Karamajiji, which is behind the National Cemetery, most people would not go there because it is far from them. It was only my group that visited these camps in collaboration with some NGO’s and the Mama IDP group.

    “People don’t want to go outside. Almost all the camps in Abaji, Kaduna Road and Nasarawa, nobody went there.

    “We shared ourselves into groups. Some people went to Borno State. We organised some other NGOs that partnered with us, like the Warm Heart Global, which went with our people to Borno to distribute sweaters because the weather is too cold over there.

    “Some of our members went to Yola with food items some good Samaritans donated. Some of us went as far as the border towns in Mubi where some IDPs are still holed up after they were deported from Cameroon.

    “Some of us stayed back in Abuja to direct people who wanted to visit. We have the data which works well with our collaborations with Nigerian info. So, when people call, they are given our numbers. When they contact us, we direct them and link them with the leadership of the camps.”

    He added: “Caring and sharing is the whole essence of Christmas. So if we think that we are enjoying and someone is suffering somewhere else, it is not good. So, in some ways, we are working for ourselves and neighbours, which is the cardinal foundation of our faith.

    “It would have been difficult for most of them this season without help from well-meaning Nigerians, especially since they barely get any form of help from the government.

    “To be candid, the government is treating the IDPs as societal rejects.

    The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) recently came up with a report on their Displacement Tracking Metrix (DTM). They captured only five IDP settlements in Abuja when there are over 17 of them. And when you calculate the ones in Abuja and its environs, we have 37 including those in places like Mararaba, Karu, Abagi, Gwagwalada, Kwali, AMAC, Nasarawa, Kaduna Road and in Niger State. But they only captured a few camps out of government settlements.

    “Nigerians should not get tired but continue to support the IDPs until they are officially returned to their communities or else they will continue to suffer. Abuja is a farming environment where they can go out and farm like most of the areas that they left behind in the Northeast, because most of them were originally farmers.”

  • Philanthropist builds homes for widows in Rivers, Abia

    A philanthropist and founder of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Nice-Esther For All Foundation (NEFAF), Nice Alamieyiseigha, has donated two units of one-bedroom apartment to two aged widows from Rivers and Abia states.

    The beneficiaries are: Madams Mercy Amadi and Paulina Paulinus.

    The building was completed in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), under NEFAF Home and Housing Scheme for poor widows and destitute in the region.

    The presentation ceremony at Isiokpo, the headquarters of Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State, where one of the houses is located, was attended by members of Isiokpo Council of Chiefs and traditional rulers, led by HRM King Blessing Wagor, Wagidi the 40th, Nye-Nwe–Ali Isiokpo, leader of Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives’ Association (NAOWA), officials of the local government and NDDC, among others.

    One of beneficiaries, a blind centenarian, expressed gratitude to Alamieyiseigha for the gesture with prayers.

    The standard one-bedroom apartment has borehole and water system.

    The event was part of the NGO’s activities to uplift the poor, orphans and physically challenged during Christmas.

    Started in 2010, the NGO has been funded solely by its founder and her husband Godknows Alamieyiseigha, an engineer. The NGO has impacted lives of several indigents of the society.

    Speaking on her passion for helping the helpless, said “doing charity and affecting lives positively are my passion and life,” stressing that her vision is to extend the gesture to other states of the region.

  • Philanthropist renovates police station

    A philanthropist, Deacon Festus Idjokoý, has renovated the Ivbiotor Police Station in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

    The renovation work included re-grassing of the parade ground, landscaping, replacement of window louvres with aluminium profiles, ceiling boards with PVC, floor tiles, provision of air-conditioners in the charge room and other offices, gasoline generator, Plasma TV and payment of satellite subscription for one year.

    Deacon Idjoko said the gesture was part of his firm’s corporate social responsibilities for last yearý.

    Idjoko stated that his firm would undertake the cost of routine maintenance of the facilities at the station for one year before the police authorities would take over subsequently.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the police station, former Inspector-General of Police and Chairman of the Commission, Sir Mike Okiro, revealed that lack of adequate budgetary provision may force the Police Service Commission to defer the recruitment of 10, 000 men into the Nigerian Police Force till 2016.

    Sir Okiro noted that ýthe rehabilitation of police barracks and stations across the country maybe done before the recruitment exercise.

    “We have not started yet. Police stations have been desolate for five years and before we recruit, we need to make provisions for training the officers and men of the force and pay their salaries and allowances. This was not captured in this year’s budget; hopefully by next year, we will begin the process,” he said.

    “Deacon Festus Idjokoý has done what people should do. He calls it corporate social responsibility but I call it National responsibility. We cannot sit down and shout, condemn and vilify the police by doing nothing to assist them to do better.

    “He did not only see the environment in which the police work, he felt he could make it better for the police to work better. Other companies and individuals should emulate this gesture,” he said.

  • Philanthropist donates lab equipment to schools

    Philanthropist donates lab equipment to schools

    A philanthropist, Hon. Semiu Ishola Karaole has donated educational materials and science laboratory equipment to schools and study centres in Mushin area of Lagos State. The gesture was borne out of the need to help the students prepare ahead of the General Certificate Examination (GCE).

    Commending Hon. Karaole for his benevolence, the Director, Quality Assurance Tutorial Centre, Mushin, Mr Oladunjoye Joshua, said Hon. Karaole has shown his commitment to motivating and uplifting students at the grassroots level.

    He said the gesture would impact positively on the lives of the students as well as prepare them to be self-reliant in future.

    He called on other well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Hon. Karaole in making life meaningful for people at the grassroots . This, he said, would enable them to contribute to nation-building.

    Responding, Hon. Karaole said his modest contribution was borne out of his commitment to impact positively on the lives of the students and to enable them to achieve their academic goals.

    He also said the initiative aimed at supporting Governor Ambode and All Progressives Congress (APC’s) promises made to the electorate during the electioneering campaigns. The people were promised that the party would provide dividends of democracy for the people.

    He said investing in the education sector is a way of ensuring strong foundation for the country’s future. He noted that any society that neglects the education of the youth risks underdevelopment since the youth are the future of any country.

    This, he added, would eradicate some social vices which youths often indulge in. Such vices, he said, include thuggery, cultism, kidnapping, robbery and internet scam, among others.

    He, however, pledged more commitment to sponsoring educational activities in his constituency. He appealed to the students to be serious in their studies and shun all forms of indiscipline that could hinder them from realising their potential.

    Among the benefiting study centres were Concept Summer School, Quality Assurance Tutorial Centre and others. No fewer than 300 students benefited from the gesture.

    Similarly, the member representing Mushin State Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, urged students in his constituency to shun violence, cultism, thuggery, rape and other social vices. These, he said, would tarnish their image, ruin their future by hindering them from achieving their academic goals.

    Hon. Olayiwola spoke at St Judes’ Primary School, Ilasamaja, Mushin during a workshop on education he organised for secondary school students in his constituency.

    He said it was time the youth made a re-think and engage in activities that would impact positively on the society.

    According to the lawmaker, the career workshop aimed at preparing students towards securing their future. He said no fewer than 200 students have benefited from the programme during which he distributed free GCE forms and organised free coaching lessons. The gesture, he said, was part of his commitments to empower students and to guide them to realise their future.

    Hon. Olayiwola said: “The time has come for students to feel the impact of government in their educational careers. This would help in reducing the level of illiteracy and eradicating ignorance which are the causes of youths’ restiveness.

    The lawmaker said the idea of engaging students in such career workshop resulted from his 10-year experience as a teacher, which, according to him, will help the students when choosing their educational/professional careers.

    According to him, he had been organising free computer/vocational training, donation of books and other study materials for many indigent members of the society. He urged the students to take their studies seriously, insisting that they must strive to be better citizens. This, he said, will enable them to contribute their quota to the development of Mushin community.

    He appealed to public office holders to empower students and other youths at the grassroots to enable them to be useful to themselves and the society.

     

  • Honour for a philanthropist

    Honour for a philanthropist

    For her outstanding commitment to voluntary fundraising for various causes that touch lives of people, Rev. Sophie Mbanisi, founder of Healing Hearts Foundation, has been honoured with an Award of Excellence by the Voice of Change Network.

    The Lagos-based humanitarian organisation, nominated Rev. Mbanisi, a philanthropist because of her incredible dedication to humanitarian cause. Not only does she play a significant role in gathering support for the plight of widows, she is also, through her foundation, committed to alleviating poverty, illiteracy and helping the poor have access to basic necessities of life.

    On receiving her award, the Oraukwu, Anambra State-born mother of seven, thanked the organisers for the award and her foundation team for their dedication to service to people.

    “To be in a room filled with so many individuals giving their time, talent and energy to the well-being of the poor was inspiration to me. I was stunned by comments by all who spoke and the convener, Mr Gregory Azemobor. They are words of encouragement which have challenged each one of us to keep doing what we love to do…give back to the society.

    “I also would like to thank members of staff of Healing Hearts Foundation and volunteers for all they have done for the foundation. Without them our projects wouldn’t have seen the light of day. I commend their selfless service to humanity and I am grateful to them,” Mbanisi said.

    She also urged the society to be more active in their social responsibilities and listed funding as one of the biggest challenges she faces as a humanitarian.

    “Our major challenge is financing. Every day, needs arise and the needs do not ask if there are sufficient funds. Privileged members of the society have to do more in catering for the needs of the poor. We should not wait for the government,” she said.