A prominent businessman and philanthropist, Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo, and his wife, Olori Abayomi Onabanjo, have donated 20 additional boreholes to communities across Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, to address water scarcity and improve access to potable water.

The latest donation is the second batch of boreholes provided by the couple, coming barely two weeks after 12 communities benefited from the first phase of the initiative.

The beneficiaries of the latest batch include Olode Isale (Imupa), Idepo (Ijasi), Obalende 1 (Porogun), Obalende (Seicko), Oju Koti, Alawa, Ojofa, Ita Osu New Market (Ikongba), Ayegbami (Idomowo Community), Ipamurin and Ishado.

Others are Imoru, Ariyo Street (Moborode), Eleru Gbeda (GRA Festac), Oniworo, Onirugba, Itaajana, Sabo 2, Idomila and Ijagun Road.

Speaking on Sunday at the inauguration and handover ceremony in Ijebu-Ode, the donor’s representative, Funmilayo Ayanwusi, said the project was driven by the need to address water shortages in the communities.

She disclosed that the initiative is expected to provide a total of 52 boreholes across different parts of Ijebu-Ode.

Ayanwusi stressed that the project was purely philanthropic and was not motivated by political ambitions, describing Onabanjo as a businessman committed to giving back to his community.

“Why a water project? Water is essential for everyone. It is a basic necessity not only for human beings, but also for animals and plants. Recognising the need within the community, he saw an opportunity to make a difference and decided to help alleviate the community’s water shortage,” she said.

According to her, each borehole is equipped with a generating set to ensure access to water.

She added that more than 100 artisans had been engaged in executing the project, creating economic opportunities for welders, plumbers, engineers and survey personnel.

“Omooba Abimbola Onabanjo is not a politician. He never was, he isn’t, and I don’t think he has plans of becoming one anytime soon. He is someone who always wants to give back to his community,” Ayanwusi said.

The Chairman of the Ijebu-Ode Council of Oloritun, Alhaji Adebisi Alausa, commended the philanthropist for the initiative, saying it had helped reduce the burden on government.

“This has never happened before. I will be 89 on Friday, August 21. I have not witnessed this type of occasion before,” Alausa said.

“With what Abimbola has done now, he has reduced the job of the government by a huge percentage.”

Alausa, however, urged political leaders to revive the old water pipelines and reservoir systems across Ogun State, saying such infrastructure would provide a more sustainable solution to the state’s water challenges.

A Philanthropist, Chief Collins Udu has empowered a physically challenged barber and distributed food items including cash worth millions of naira, to widows and less privileged in his Ebonyi community.

Okorie, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of McRich Nig. Limited made the presentations on Tuesday at his hometown, Nguzu, Edda Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi during his annual yuletide gathering in the community.

Udu in his address, said he embarked on the annual celebration with the less privileged, to give them a sense of belonging especially during the yuletide.

“I always want to give back to the society as I commend other well-meaning individuals from the community for putting smiles on the faces of the less-privileged.

“We understand the impact of the harsh economic situation on the people and we feel obliged to contribute in any way to ameliorate it.”

The business tycoon urged the people to have faith in God as he alone has the power to bring succour and remedy all difficult situations.

“Continue to promote peace in the community as development and upliftment can only come in an atmosphere of peace.”

The disabled barber Olughu who received N500,000 thanked Udu for the gesture and pledged to judiciously utilise the fund.

“I pray that God continues to replenish and guide you in delivering these humanitarian gestures to the people.”

Another beneficiary, Mrs Bridget Oji, also thanked Udu for the gesture and prayed for God’s continued blessings upon him.

Ngozi, Nigeria – Chief Collins Udu, a Calabar-based Businessman, has declared that God’s numerous blessings upon him serves as a motivation for him to assist the needy in the society.

Udu made the declaration on Friday at Nguzu, Edda Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, when he feted elderly women and indigent widows in the area in the spirit of the New Year celebration.

The Business Mogul who distributed bags of rice, cash and other items, said that the annual event, was to appreciate God’s blessings upon him and to give the beneficiaries a sense of belonging.

“I will continue to assist the elderly and less priviledged in the society to the best of my ability.

“I call on well-meaning individuals and organisations in the society to always assist the needy to make the society better for all.”

Udu used the occasion to present two automated motorized lawn mowers to Nguzu Edda primary school and Community Secondary school, Nguzu Edda.

“This is to assist the pupils and students of the two schools in clearing grasses in their schools”.

The Headmistress of Nguzu Edda Primary School, Mrs Nnenna Ude, thanked the philanthropist for his gesture, noting that it has given hope to the needy in the area.

“The principal of Community Secondary school, Nguzu Edda, also appreciated Udu and prayed God to bless him in his endeavours.

A cross section of the elderly women appreciated Udu for always remembering them and widows in the area and prayed for God’s blessings upon him and his family.

The event featured songs of praise to God almighty and special prayers for Udu.

Abakaliki, Nigeria – A Philanthropist, Mr Monday Elom, on Sunday distributed empowerment items to victims of a devastating communal conflict in Abakaliki Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi state.

The distribution held at Azuofia Edda community of the council saw 45 widows and over 100 orphans and elders, receiving cash, food and empowerment items.

The business mogul said the distribution was to cushion the effect of the hardship faced by the people due to communal conflicts with its neighbouring Cross River community in 2017.

“This is an annual event to assist the downtrodden in the once conflict–ravaged area which has been abandoned by relevant authorities.

“We are aware of the conflict which claimed several lives and caused untold suffering on the people.

“I realise daily that I have a very big burden which prompted me to celebrate in their midst.”

He urged relevant authorities and well-meaning citizens to assist the community because the people were starving and lacked essential amenities.

“I am just a business entrepreneur struggling to survive but we have politicians with wide connections.

“Most of the boreholes in the community for instance, are not functioning, so prominent personalities should not allow the people suffer.

“Most of their farmlands were seized by the neighbouring community during the conflict and they do not have where to farm now.”

Elom appealed to the Ebonyi government to look into the plight of the people to ease the suffering confronting them.

“Most of the inhabitants are displaced with over 500 houses burnt during the conflict.

“They cannot access their farmlands which were embargoed as part of conditions for peace during the conflict.”

The chairman of the occasion, Ogbuefi Emmanuel Nwokpoku, thanked Elom for the gesture, noting that he has the people’s interest at heart.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Treasurer, Mr Mathew Uguru, also commended Elom and called on other illustrious sons of the community to emulate him.

Uguru, represented by the Coordinator of Enyi-Edda Development Centre of the council, Mr Reuben Edeh, noted that relevant authorities have initiated moves to demarcate the disputed land.

“They have also made other interventions to cushion the effects of the conflict on the people.”

Mrs Josephine Oketa, one of the beneficiaries, thanked Elom for the gesture and prayed for God’s continued blessings upon him.

By Emmanuel Ndukuba

Awka, June 30, 2024 – Chief Joseph Onuorah, a philanthropist and business mogul, has commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra state developmental strides in the past two years in office.

Onuorah who stated this while fielding questions in Awka on Sunday, said the governor has brought visible developments in almost all sectors of the state economy since assumption of office .

He also extolled the governor’s unwavering commitment to infrastructural development, especially road constructions, and appealed for the construction of the Oko-Ndiowu-Ufuma link road to open up the agrarian communities along the axis.

“The road will also help create jobs and employment opportunities mostly for the teeming unemployed youths to arrest their restiveness,” he added.

Onuorah described the ongoing construction of over 400 kilometres of roads across the state by Soludo administration within his two years in office as unprecedented in the history of the state, urging him to sustain the momentum.

The business mogul noted also that the free antenatal and delivery services to pregnant women and mothers by the current administration in the state has significantly reduce maternal mortality rate in the state.

He urged the governor to continue the massive investment in the health sector as adequate health services is key to economic development of any nation.

Onuorah, however, urged Soludo to redouble his efforts in tackling insecurity in the state, as cases of killings and kidnappings are still increasing recklessly across some local government areas and communities in Anambra south sensational zone.

“Effective security network is one of the models for good governance in the developed countries of the world, even as he charged Anambra citizens to be alive to their responsibilities as security is everybody’s business,” he said.

According to him, the recent awards won by the governor, “the Champions Newspaper Man of the year 2023 on infrastructure and rural development” is well deserved.

He described also the recent appointment of Soludo, the Vice Chairman “Southern Governor’s Forum” as a step in the right direction.

Onuorah called on the governor to use the new position to advocate for equitable distribution of resources by the Federal Government and other pressing issues facing the southeast region.

“These issues included insecurity and discrimination in terms of job opportunities and appointments in key Federal Government ministries, departments and agencies in the interest of peace, justice and fairness,” he affirmed.