The Wife of the Anambra State Governor, Chief Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano may have opened a new vista in humanizing governance in Nigeria as she handed the keys to three functional bungalows to three widows, Thursday.
The gesture forms a part of the central thrust of Chief Mrs. Obiano’s NGO, the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE) which the wife of the governor established as an interventionist organ that makes critical interventions in the lives of society’s vulnerable members like widows, women, children, the mentally and physically challenged and the destitute.
Handing the house over to indigent widows in Alor, Agulu and Nri communities in Idemili South and Anaocha Local Government Areas respectively, Chief Mrs. Obiano said that the houses were the fulfillment of a dream nurtured by faith.
Hear her; “This is the fulfillment of a promise I made after I observed the living conditions of some of the widows before my husband became the governor. His mission is to serve Ndi Anambra; mine is to support his efforts through the programmes of my NGO, CAFÉ.”
According to her, it had always been clear to her that little drops of charity could change the fortunes of the vulnerable members of the society and that explains why her CAFÉ Housing initiative came on stream to improve the living conditions of beneficiaries who hitherto lived in dilapidated mud houses with roofs of thatch.
Offering more insight into the many objectives of CAFÉ, Chief Mrs. Obiano explained that the group was also set up to act as a beacon of hope for indigent widows by undertaking various empowerment skills acquisition programmes to help them.
“We also ensure that our women and youths get meaningfully engaged in order to surmount the pressures that may derail them from a morally upright path. CAFE Housing for Indigent Widows is one such intervention,” she explained.
Speaking further, she said, “I almost shed tears when I saw the transformation from the mud houses to what they have now. We cannot afford to allow the challenges of the lack of basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter to dictate the lives of the less privileged amongst us in this 21st Century.”
To buttress her call to assist the needy, Mrs. Obiano quoted passages from the Book of Isaiah 58:7, ” Share your food with the hungry and give shelter to the homeless….” and reminded the people that “this is Anambra! We are blessed with men and women of means whose success is known across the world. Let us spare a thought for the needy; let us join hands and make a difference in the lives of the widows.”
The wife of the governor also stated that as an NGO, CAFE did not receive any subvention from the government but was able to embark on projects with donations from corporate organizations and individuals.
She explained that the three commissioned houses for Mrs. Rebecca Ekezie of Okebunoye Village Alor; Mrs. Helen Okafor of Amatutu Village, Agulu; and Mrs. Catherine Ibekwe of Obeagu village, Nri are part of the Phase One of the CAFÉ housing for Widows spread across three Senatorial districts of the state.
Earlier, the Chairman of Idemili South LGA, Prince Henry Ezenwa commended Mrs. Obiano for her wonderful work of charity through CAFÉ, while Igwe of Alor, His Royal Highness MacAnthony Okonkwo, confirmed the transparency of the process that chose the beneficiary.
“It was the five-man Committee I set up which went round to take photographs of mud houses before the selection of the beneficiary”, he said.
Also at Agulu and Nri Towns, Chairman of Anaocha Local Government, Hon Ikeobi Ejiofor showered encomiums on Mrs. Obiano for choosing to put roof over the heads of indigent widows amongst other empowerment programmes by CAFE.
He also assured of the support of the people for the governor and prayed to God to protect the family always.
The highpoint of the commissioning was the cutting of tape by Mrs. Obiano who handed over keys to the houses to each beneficiary.
PHOTO CAPTION
Pix 1(L-R): Building at Okebunoye Village, Alor donated to Mrs. Rebecca Ekezie by Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano under CAFE Housing for Indigent Widows.
Pix 2(L-R): Prince Ken Udechukwu, Chairman Idemili South LGA, Prince Chinedu Ezenwa, Beneficiary of house, Mrs. Rebecca Ekezie; donor/Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano and Igwe of Alor, His Royal Highness, MacAnthony Okonkwo during the Commissioning of one-Bedroom/Palour Bungalow at Alor donated under CAFÉ Housing for Indigent Widows.
Pix 3(L-R): Igwe of Alor, His Royal Highness, MacAnthony Okonkwo, Beneficiary of the house, Mrs. Rebecca Ekezie, and donor/Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano during the Commissioning of one-Bedroom/Palour Bungalow in Alor donated under CAFÉ Housing for Indigent Widows.
Pix 4(L-R): Building at Amatutu Village, Agulu donated to Mrs. Helen Okafor by Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano under CAFE Housing for Indigent Widows.
Pix 5(L-R): Igwe of Agulu, His Royal Highness, Elochukwu Obodoaku, Beneficiary of house, Mrs. Helen Okafor; donor/Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano handing over the keys at the Commissioning or one-Bedroom/Palour Bungalow in Nri donated under CAFÉ Housing for Indigent Widows today.
Pix 6(L-R): Building at Obeagu Village, Nri donated to Mrs. Catherine Ibekwe by Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano under CAFE Housing for Indigent Widows.
Pix 7(L-R): Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Chikwelu, Former Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Uju Okeke, donor/Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, Beneficiary of Nri House, Mrs. Catherine Ibekwe and Mrs. Prisca Umeh during the Commissioning of CAFE Housing for Indigent Widows at Nri.
Pix 8(L-R): Borehole at Obeagu Village, Nri donated to Mrs. Catherine Ibekwe by Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano under CAFE Housing for Indigent Widows.
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