SUN Humanitarian Service Icon Award: Why Senator Ekwunife Is A Deserving Recipient

Posted on May 6, 2022

VICTOR OGBUNUGAFOR

The quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavour. Commitment isn’t easy, but when we stay committed it has the ability to help us achieve goals we may have only dreamed of.

The Sun Humanitarian Service Icon Award to Distinguished Sen. Uche Ekwunife (Iyom) did not come as a surprise to us, the good people of Anambra Central Senatorial District having keenly observed how the Distinguished decided not to follow where the path may lead, instead followed where there was no path and have left an unprecedented trail.

Humanitarian as defined by Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (New 9th Edition) means ‘Concerned with reducing suffering and improving the condition that people live in; now you can grab a cup of coffee, while I take you through why the woman known by many as Ifekaolado, is deserving of this prestigious award.

In line with Ekwunife’s resolve to upgrade the Education Infrastructure in Public Schools in Anambra Central Senatorial District, selected Schools benefitted from brand new sets of Furnitures. The schools which cuts across the 7 Local Government of the zone are Community Secondary School Oraukwu, Community Secondary School Isiagu, St. John Secondary School Akwukwu, Community Secondary School Awba-Ofemili, St. Michael’s Secondary School Abacha, Agunkwor Primary School Amoji Agulu, St. Michael’s Model Primary School Nimo, Central School Nise and Central School Obeledu.

She had equally constructed and rehabilitated numerous Classroom Blocks in Public Schools across the district and donated education materials to 133 Schools in the Zone.

The Ogudebe Scholarship Foundation which was founded by the Senator long before she ventured into Politics has offered scholarship to over 3,000 persons in Vocational Training, Primary, Secondary, Tertiary Education.

During the devastating period of the Covid-19 Pandemic, Ekwunife facilitated the distribution of Covid-19 Preventive Materials and food items to her constituents. The distribution of the materials and items which lasted for days was part of the Senator’s effort to cushion the adverse effect of the pandemic on her Constituents, particularly those who were worst hit by the economic challenge brought by the disease.

On Employment, there are two main strategies for reducing unemployment which are: Demand Side Policies to reduce Demand Deficient Unemployment and Supply Side Policies to reduce Structural Unemployment /(The natural rate of unemployment).

Distinguished Sen. Uche Ekwunife through Supply-Side Policies of Unemployment, facilitated several Training and Empowerment programmes for Youths and Women of Anambra Central Senatorial District.

The aim is to give the unemployed new skills which will enable them to find jobs in developing industries.

Her 12th Empowerment Programme is comprised of various trainings designed to equip at least 3,000 Constituents with Entrepreneurial and Employability skills to curb Youth restiveness due to the rising insecurity in the State.

Some of the areas where Participants were engaged includes: Snailery Production and Enhancement Process, Mechanized Animal Husbandry; Modern Masonry; Carpentry and Painting; in the areas aimed at addressing Human Capital Development of Anambra Central Senatorial District, Experts have held various Workshops on Space Based Interpretation for the good people of the Zone.

In her quest to ensure that the good people of Anambra Central are gainfully employed into the Federal Civil Service, the figure below illustrates the number of Persons that Sen. Uche Ekwunife assisted in getting employment and the year.

2008 – 2015 (233 persons)

2019 – 2022 – (153 persons)

These figures above prove that Sen. Uche Ekwunife is the greatest of all time facilitator of employment in Anambra State.

Note that the above figure is verifiable as names of the beneficiaries of the employment was published in her Scorecard document – Newscope pages 54 – 57

Empowerment Program and Intervention Funds are part of the Distinguished Sen. Uche Ekwunife’s stimulus programmes aimed at supporting small businesses, funding targeted projects and reducing poverty.

The funds are also an initiative to provide loans to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) in Anambra Central Senatorial District.

Currently, a total intervention funds of close to half a Billion Naira have been paid to 567 Persons to curb the impact of Post-Covid-19 and help to support small businesses in Anambra Central Senatorial District.

Caring for the poor and needy and helping the less privileged is a noble endeavor. The more you give to the poor and needy, the more you strengthen their dependency. If you give them the chance or opportunity, you’ll see an effective and long-lasting improvement in their lives.

This principle must have inspired Distinguished Sen. Uche Ekwunife to embark on free massive Construction of homes for the less privileged across the Senatorial zone. Many Ultramodern Three Bedroom Bungalows have been constructed and handed over to various beneficiaries across several communities under the Senatorial District.

In today’s globally interconnected economy, Road Intervention, efficient road network and transportation systems are highways to economic prosperity. Good roads and drainage system are critical to export. For any economy to develop, distribution and consumption must increase hence the reason Distinguished Sen. Uche Ekwunife embarked on Gigantic Roads, Drainage, Culverts and Solar Lights Projects as have never seen before in the history of Anambra State.

There is no single Community in Anambra Central Senatorial District that does not have a feel of a Project attracted by Ifekaolaedo – a deserving cheiftaincy title she received from the ancient Ukpo Kingdom which means “something worth more than gold”.

Ekwunife has attracted numerous Projects that cut across the Senatorial Districts in the areas of Roads, Culverts, Drainages, Classroom blocks, Market Stalls, Vocational Training Centres, Sporting and ICT Centre, Boreholes, Street Lights etc.

A Healthy Nation they say is a Wealthy Nation. One should never neglect their health, and being healthy goes beyond not being sick. Through regular medical checkups, an individual has access to vital information that will help them monitor their physical, mental and emotional health so that they can take action and make wise decisions for their well being.

This above reason necessitated Distinguished Sen. Uche Ekwunife’s Free Medical Outreach Initiative. The 2019/2020 session cuts across the 58 communities and 7 Local Government Areas of Anambra Central and recorded massive turnouts.

During the 4th Edition of the Free Medical Outreach, which was held for 7 days between 18th December – 23rd December across the 7 Local Government Areas, the health services rendered by the Medical Team includes: Malaria Treatment, Eye and Dental Check, Free Vital Signs, Hypertension, Diabetes Mellitus and Obesity, Health Education Seminars on HIV, Tuberculosis Treatment e.t.c.

In conclusion, the Management and Staff of the Sun Publishing Limited made the most excellent decision to honour a rear gem that is dear to the hearts of the good people of Anambra Central.

Iyom is a Visionary Leader, the sky is only the beginning, the good people of Anambra Central Senatorial District who she represent have utmost trust and confidence in her.

Jisike, Anyanwu Nri Kingdom, Jisike Ifekaolaedo!

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