By Pius Dukor, Port Harcourt
As poverty and underdevelopment continue to ravage the people of the Niger Delta, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Epic Charity Foundation, Prof. Barango Opukumo Wenke, has said the region has the opportunity to develop through the foundation.
The founder and CEO made this known during an interview with journalists at the inauguration of the South South coordinators in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State.
He said that the maiden visit and inauguration were also used for the restructuring of the organisation, adding that the international non-governmental organisation’s core objective is giving to humanity.
The university don maintained that Niger Deltans are the most disadvantaged people in Nigeria despite the huge resources found in their environment, but expressed optimism that with Epic Charity Foundation the narrative will change for the better because the NGO seeks to empower community people through project delivery that will transform their situation.
The founder explained that the NGO has a litany of limitless projects that will be executed by other non-governmental organisations who affiliate with Epic Charity Foundation, adding that those who are saddled with the responsibility should give what belongs to the community to them. “I want the Niger Delta people to take opportunity of this programme to develop their communities,” he said.
Speaking further, Wenke told participants that the Federal Government had done due diligence on the money waiting to be disbursed for different projects to remove poverty from the Niger Delta, noting that those who are involved must work hard. “This is an opportunity to fight the injustice in the region through these projects. But Needs Assessment must be done,” he said.
“The social amenities will control urban migration. Let us get it right this time,” he stated.
Prof. Wenke stressed that the community projects will include: health, education, rural electrification, environmental cleanup, business, agriculture and food security. Others are peace building, advocacy, skills acquisition among others. He used the event to promote, appoint and confirmed key positions including the appointment of South South coordinators.
The keynote speaker and the Southern Nigeria administrator, Rev. Dr. Sheriff Azeke, said Epic Charity Foundation is striving because Nigeria is going through infrastructural deficiency and needs a strong NGO to pull the country out of the quarmire.
Azeke maintained that the organisation is partnering with the Federal Government to reduce poverty in the country in the 36 states, while cautioning that they cannot deal with individuals, but only through registered NGOs, cooperative organisations and companies with CAC registration.
Earlier, the guest speaker, Dr. Chikanele Asuru, an Associate Professor with the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, while discussing on the theme, ‘Building Sustainable Cities and Communities for a Peaceful and Inclusive Society,’ said that Epic Charity Foundation is addressing Goal 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the projects.
In her welcome remarks, Ambassador Christie Iwezor, the Rivers State coordinator told participants that the NGO believes in peaceful coexistence in Nigeria, adding that the projects will reach the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.
She also said that the NGO will take infrastructural development to the door step of Nigerians.
Some of the prominent personalities who gave goodwill messages are Dr. Sisi Asadu, the coordinator, South East, Mene Sylvester Kogbara, Ajobo Alexander and Engr. Shittu Abdulaziz and the chairman of the event, Chief Chuma Obiegbu the managing director of Chumarine Big. Ltd .
Highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to the founder of Epic Charity Foundation Prof. Barango Mathew Wenke and Rev. Dr. Sherrif Azeke.
