Rt. Hon. Cosmos Ndukwe Ph.D (ManofGod)
the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly has through his Cosmos Ndukwe Foundation built, furnished and donated a bungalow to Mrs. Mary Iheke of Okai Item in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State. The House, 17th in what he codenamed “Project 50” (building a total of 50 houses for indigent widows) is part of the Foundation’s deliberate attempt to help indigent widows conquer poverty and deprivation.
The former Chief of Staff to the Governor of Abia State and Founding President of Cosmos Ndukwe Foundation, disclosed that in order to sustain the excitement of gifting these widows with houses, he adopts the beneficiaries as his “wives”, ensuring that they are provided with material and financial resources as upkeep during their lifetime.
The Foundation, it would be recalled has in about two decades undertaken the thankless activities of awarding scholarships to gifted but indigent students, payimg WAEC registration fees for no fwwr than 200 candidates yearly, offering non – repayable business grants to select indigent widows while the most deserving amongst them get houses to put an end to homelessness with its attendant hardship.
The former General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) offered explanation why the Foundation could not build for Mrs Ijeoma Offor of Umuakpa Item, the original winner of the 17th House. According to Dr. Ndukwe, team of the Foundation’s investigators met a stumbling back as the proposed land was encumbered. The Foundation must, as a matter of policy, ensure that the proposed land must be customarily partitioned or gifted to the beneficiary widow or the project would be cancelled.
BENUDECHUKWU.COM gathered that the other sixteen (16) houses can be found in Umunneochi, Uzuakoli, Igbere, Ohafia, Arochukwu, Ugwueke with majority in Item, Abia State.
In a ceremony witnessed by the traditional ruler of Okai Item, HRH Eze Opara Ogbonnaya, Ezeugo 1 of Item, the President General of Okai Item Development Association Chief Ogechukwu Samuel Ogba and array of widows and youths, the former Commissioner for Trade and Investment supported by his wife Lady Ndidi Cosmos Ndukwe assured that the primary motive of engaging in this simple act of charity is to stand in the gap for the poorest of the poor who for no fault of theirs struggle with different shades of deprivation. ManofGod assured that through the help of God, that the Foundation will deliver the remaining thirty three (33) houses within the shortest possible time.
One of the major highlights of the occasion was the handing over of the 17th House by the beneficiary of the 16th House Madam Onuoha who relished memories of the unquantifiable peace she has experienced living in her own house at a time she had given up hope on getting a decent accommodation in her life time.
The Foundation which is at the verge of being conferred with Consultative Status by the United Nations, has over the years designated 30th December to honour widows. This year’s celebration, as in the past saw widows and other categories of beneficiaries going home with food items, clothing and cash gifts. Onyekwere, a youth of the community was gifted a local garri processing plant. The elated Onyekwere, announced, to the chargrin of everybody that he would offer his garri processing services to widows at 50% discount, as a way of appreciating the Foundation for giving him that long expected leeway. He also assured the mammoth crowd that he has given up all his deviant behaviours which could be traced ro his former state of unemployment.
Trustees of the Fondation, youth leaders and cross section of community leaders were among those who witnessed the epoch making ceremony
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