Jubilation as Emeka Offor Donates N2.5 Million, Food Stuffs, Others to Flood Victims in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

It was jubilation galore for flood victims in Anambra State following donation of N2.5million, food items, beddings and other materials to them by Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF).

The food items include 600 (50kg) bags of rice, 60 (50kg) bags of beans, 60 (50kg) bags of garri, 500 pieces of 3ft 6inches of mattresses, 500 cartons of idomie noodles, 600 tubers of yams, 50 cartoons of tomatoes.

Others are 30 cartons of bathing soap, 30cartons of washing soap, 30 jerrycanes of palm oil, 30cartons of Milo beverages, 30 cartons of milk, 50 jerrycanes of vegetables oil, 10 bags of salt and 10 cartons of maggi cubes.

Speaking on behalf of the foundation in Awka during the presentation, Chief of Staff to the foundation, Rtd AIG Chris Ezike said the foundation was passionate about helping the poor and the needy in the society.

He hinted that the cash gift had been shared to affected victims accross the various local government councils, adding that a distribution profile has been developed to ensure the items got to the victims without transportation and logistics difficulties. 

“In line with the passion of Sir Emeka Offor and his commitment to charity and humanitarian endeavours that we’re here to commiserate with the government and people of the state on the recent flood disaster which ravaged about 7 local government areas in the State,” he said.

Ezike further revealed that Sir Emeka Offor is the Rotary International Ambassador of Nigeria, noting that the Foundation was founded in 1996 and formally incorporated in 2006.

According to him, the vision of the Foundation is to alleviate poverty and make significant contributions in matter of charity. He indicated that the Foundation engages in health, human services and empowerment.

He extended his condolences to those who died and lost their means of livelihood as a result of the flood. He also commended the leadership style of Governor Soludo, acknowledging the speed deployed by the Governor in response to the flood menace in the State.

“Our companies are only fulfilling our Corporate Social Responsibility, especially EEDC which have been of great assistance.

“The Foundation had been interfacing with the Chief of Staff to Governor Soludo, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Chief of Protocol to Governor Soludo, Mr Chinedu Nwoye and the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo for making the event possible.

Ezike praised Soludo’s uncommon leadership skills amidst challenges as well as his desire in converting the State to a construction site. 

“Your government has shown love, empathy and friendship to her citizens in need and desire support, hence our hunger to intervene in our modest ways,” he said.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo while recieving the items in favour of flood displaced persons in the state, called on the federal government to engage more proactive measures against the perennial flooding in the Country.

He described Sir Emeka Offor as an eminent and illustrious son of Anambra who have been a gift to the state and Nigeria as a whole over the years.

The Governor revealed that he has been following the Foundation closely from 1996 to date, stressing that the donation is not the the first time Sir Emeka Offor is responding to emergency crises, recalling how he generously donated to the Federal Government of Nigeria during the COVID-19 outbreak.

He however, lamented that resources available in the hands of Government is too insignificant because the bulk of resources is in private hands and acknowledged the roles of International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other Development Partners.

“On behalf of the great people of Anambra, I deeply appreciate the Sir Emeka Offor foundation.

“Anambra is the second state largely affected by flood after Jigawa which has led to loss of lives and swept roads, bridges, farmlands and properties.

“We expect the Federal Government to do its own part in curbing the menace of flooding,” he added.

The Governor further advised that Federal Government should act by building sub-dams and installing speed breakers, regretting that citizens are eventually paying the bitter price as result of these perennial flooding.

“Due to lack of speed breakers, once water in the dams are released by Cameroun Government, it comes with ferocious speed thereby resulting to flooding in Nigeria”, the Governor further stated.

The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo gave assurances that the relief items will get to the flood displaced people scattered in camps in the seven affected local government areas of the state.

“We thank Sir Emeka Offor and the foundation for their gesture. The Agency will immediately commence distribution of the items to the affected local government areas.

The Director of Partnerships/Outreach, PDG Ijeoma Pearl Okoro made a symbolic presentation of the items list to the Governor.

During the event, Awgbu Town Union also presented a N1million cheque to the flood-cause.