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By Madu Obi
A nongovernmental organization, NGO, Onyinyeomachukwu Empowerment Foundation, OEF, has given scholarships to 100 indigent primary school pupils in Anambra State as part of its support to the development of education.
The NGO said the scholarship, which is for pupils in various classes at the Living Christ Nursery and Primary School, Onitsha, is targeted at laying a good foundation for the children of the less privileged in the society.
At a ceremony in Onitsha, the Foundation also distributed over 700 basic cleaning kits containing toothpaste and brushes, hand wash, and sanitizer, among other materials, to encourage children to live a clean and healthy lifestyle.
The founder and chairperson of the Foundation, Ambassador Onyinye Uwaechia said the whole idea was to serve the people in the locality.
According to her, the Foundation still looks forward to instituting a Health Centre to accommodate more health services and population in the area.
She said: "The goal of the Foundation remains to impact positively on people’s lives, as well as sensitize young stars to take responsibility for their environment and health.
“We aim to empower as many people as possible, one at a time, because when one person is meaningfully empowered, he can go on and empower others, setting a chain of positive impacts in society."
“I chose my first port of call to be Living Christ Nursery and Primary School School, Onitsha, Anambra State, to teach and sensitize the young stars on the need for them to take responsibility for their environment and health."
"If we can catch them young and help them inculcate the duty of care and responsibility, the future is sure.”
Uwaechia said the vision of the Foundation had been replicated in other parts of the country, including Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory and Zango-Kataf community in Kaduna State, where it donated cash, food items, and other humanitarian materials to the less privileged.
She called on well-meaning individuals to key into the United Nations Goal 17 approach of partnership and collaboration for the advancement of the society.
The state Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Patrick Aghamba, commended the foundation for the gesture to the children, noting that the initiative was in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s agenda on human capital development.
He also said that the current administration in the state is passionate about the health needs of the people and urged stakeholders to embrace the Public Community Private Partnership, PCPP, introduced by Governor Soludo to move Anambra forward.
In her address, the Executive Chairman, Amambra State Universal Basic Education Board, ASUBEB, Assoc. Prof. Vera Nwadinobi described primary education as the fundamental stage in the life of every human being and urged every school to key into the Healthy Living Garden initiative of the state government.
Wife of the Amambra State governor, Dr. Nonye Soludo also commissioned the Foundation's health post in Onitsha.
Mrs Soludo, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, ASPHDA, Pharm. Chisom Uchem, urged people to maintain a healthy living to enjoy good life.
She described healthy living as a very conscious practice and a crucial way of life.
“You must make up your mind to sacrifice certain unhealthy habits that do not go well with your body formula. You must understand that to live healthy is to live happily," she said.
She commended the Foundation for the initiative to erect the project and promised that it would be maximally used and properly maintained.
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