Ezeakunne foundation gifts house to widow, empowers over 400 in Onneh community

 

Ezeakunne foundation gifts house to widow, empowers over 400 in Onneh community

Ruth Orji Awka

It was a Christmas to remember for one Mrs Nkechinyere Nwafor, a 60 year-old widow in Onneh community, Orumba South Local Government Area Anambra State, as Ezeakunne Foundation gifted her a 3-bedroom bungalow as part of their 2025 edition of empowerment programme.

The empowerment, which took place in Umuezeamasi village, Onneh, also witnessed the distribution of four shuttle buses and over 300 bags of rice to the needy and less privileged in the community.

Speaking at the event, Nze Vincent Nwankwo, CEO of Ezeakunne Foundation, said the empowerment is an annual initiative aimed at uplifting the poor in the community. He stated that the programme, “which began 10 years ago”, is designed to help lift people out of poverty and suffering.

"The empowerment is an annual event and my way of thanking God for His many blessings. God has blessed me  and in my spirit of giving, gives to the poor to make their lives better.

"It is good to take stock at the end of the year so that we thank God for what he has done. Showing appreciation makes you succeed. The event is to thank God for what he has done in my life and in my family.

"For over 10 years, I have built houses for widows that do not have shelter over their heads and empower youths to start doing something that will help them be useful.

"I also distribute rice and other food items to the people of my community every December 30 or 31st as a way to appreciate God for his mercies and blessings throughout the year."

Nwankwo revealed that his empowerment initiative stemmed from his personal experience of poverty. He shared his humble beginnings, saying he started with just a bag of rice when he was living in a one-room apartment, but now he is able to give back to the community. 

"I started life as a poor man and knew what it means to be poor. It is the worst thing to happen to any individual or family. So, giving is not about having a lot, but sharing the little one has."

Nwankwo called on the wealthy and affluent individuals to take a proactive role in empowering the less fortunate, emphasizing that such acts of kindness would be a significant step towards creating a better society. 

He stressed that empowerment and giving to the poor should be a collective responsibility, urging those with resources to contribute to the well-being of others. He also urged the beneficiaries to use the gifts wisely and responsibly, seeing them as blessings from above, and to avoid flaunting them. 

"These gifts are a form of divine provision, so make the most of them. Do not use them to show off or waste them. Instead, let them be a stepping stone for your growth and development. Invest them wisely, use them to improve your life and the lives of those around you, and always remember the spirit of gratitude and kindness that brought them to you."

Speaking to Ikengaonline shortly after handover of the key to the new house, the widow, Mrs Nkechinyere Nwafor said she had no hope of building any house again since her husband's demise 13 years ago. 

"My husband died in 2012, exactly 13 years ago. Before his demise, we lived in their family house, and after his death, I lost hope of ever having a house called my own. 

“Today, God has done it for me through Vincent. I'm the second person that he is gifting a house to. My prayer is that God will continue to bless and sustain him; give him more to bless more people."

Other beneficiaries including Mr Elozonachukwu Ezulike expressed gratitude, promising to make the most of the shuttle buses and other gifts given to them.