Anambra: Philanthropist To Empower 35 Persons, Feeds 200 Families, Others With 50M
By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
A philanthropist, Mr Chinedu Lucky Adimike, a Lagos based businessman from Awka Etiti, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State has fed 200 families with 1 bag of rice and I bag of beans to celebrate Christmas and to empower 35 persons with #500,000 each during the upcoming faithspiration night of praise, worship and mega empowerment come January 3, 2005.
Speaking at St Joseph Catholic Church Awka Etiti during the sharing of the 400 bags of rice and beans to the 200 families, Rv.Fr George Adimike in an interview with Newsmen stated that” We call it Faithspiration Christmas Charity but the sponsor, Mr Chinedu Lucky Adimike knowing fully well about Faithspiration, what we do, told me that we would bring up the faith again in Awka Etiti.
“Something that would resurrect, resuscitate the community, Awka Etiti is known for generosity, Christianity, helping one another but the spirit is dying off, the rich no longer cares and helps the poor, that he want something that would fashion out evangelism that would attract the youths and people, that is Praise, Worship and Empowerment.
“So we added comedy and entertainment, these boils down to what our faithspiration is all about, so he decided to use our platform. He sponsored Faithspiration Youth Forum we did in Onitsha and now sponsored the one that would take place on 3rd January.
“He said apart from 35 persons that would benefit from the #500,000 each empowerment programme, that he would also like to feed 200 families with 1 bag of rice and I bag of beans, so that those in most challenging situation can have joy during christmas and insisted that there would be no denomination bias, everybody is included as long as you are hungry, empowerment is also for everybody, that charity begins at home, so he want to begin this in Awka Etiti and if we execute well, he would come again and again.
“He warned that let the beneficiaries be those who use the money judiciously so that light would come to those family through them. He also insisted on training the beneficiaries on coach, nurture their capitals ,invest , otherwise the whole money would be useless.
“The selection criteria was done by the Parish Justice Development and Peace Commission, JDPC of the parishes in Awka Etiti, I only directed them on our expectations. There are 7 villages in Awka Etiti, 30 persons from each village.
“This suppose to be done secretly but why it is done like this is to inspire others, this christmas palliatives are to inspire others, all these faith, charity, empowerment both in Onitsha and here cost 50M naira, not everybody is on that level, somebody can do his, based on his capacity just to inspire people.
The Parish Priest, St Joseph Catholic Church Aeja Etiti, Rv.Fr Paul Ihegbighi stated that” This is not the first time, he does it every year.On 19th of this Dec, we concluded the special Maria Programme in Awka Etiti which cost IM naira for a month and he funded it for 6 months for the promotion of Catholic faith, after that he embarked on this too.
“He sponsored the Faithspiration event at Onitsha, now for Awka Etiti, we thank God for a figure like him, there are many like him here but they rarely come out, so he believes in human empowerment not only in the church, even at the hospital here, Our Lady of Fatima Hospital and Maternity, he pays for the hospital bill of about 50 indigenous women that give birth every year, some on health insurance scheme and he does that quietly and God has been blessing him.
“Today, 200 families benefitted from the 400 bags of rice and beans, if others can emulate him, then the plight and burdens of our brothers and sisters would be lightened, this is putting faith into practice, giving back to the society and thanking God for what he has received
“My message to others is that whatever gift God has given to you are meant to be shared, if he can empower 35 persons and other rich men empowers same, if not 35, even if 10, before you know it, the number of rich men increased and then the people to help would have more hope.
In his speech to the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme, Mr Charles Igwe thought them on ways of leveraging social media for personal growth and wealth creation while the Parish Priest educated them on the need for saving culture and regular stocktaking.
Mrs Chika Ezenwa on behalf of the 200 families and Ogbajigwe Chinedu on behalf of the beneficiaries of the empowerment programme prayed for God’s blessings and protection on the donor, Mr Lucky Adimike and families.
