Most beloved Florida Writer, humorist and author, Dr Mark Twain once said: “Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and blind can see” Alan Cohen, in like manner posited; “The door you open to give love is the very one through which love arrives.”
Abia first Lady has by the special grace of God, endeared herself, and the Administration of Chief T.A. Orji, Ochendo, to many a people through her penchant and passion for giving to the needy and Abians as a whole. Her disposition to assist the less privileged members of our society has over the years, made her a household name. In the Holy Bible in Deuteronomy Chapter 15 Vs 10; God said: “give generously to the poor, not grudgingly; for the Lord God will bless you in every thing you do.”
This perhaps, explains the giving disposition of the Esther of this generation, Lady Mercy Odochi Orji, “Osinulomaramma”, who just the penultimate Thursday, June 19, 2014, publicly and colourfully worshiped the God of Sabaoth by assembling 29 less priviledged centers made up of Homes and Orphanages, Association of the bind, Association of amputees, Association deaf and that of dump for the distribution of various food items for their members’ welfare. Others were spinal cord injuries association as well as the prison inmates at the Nigerian Prisons Service, Abia Command at Aba, Arochukwu and umuahia. The S.O.S Village, Amuzukwu and the network of people living with HIV/AIDS, NEPHWAN, Abia State Chapter, were not left out.
Moved by Her earnest desire to obey God’s injunction, again as contained in Isaiah Chapter 58 Vs 7 & 10 which read in part, “share your food wit the hungry, help those in trouble, and give shelter to the homeless…,” Abia First Lady under the instrumentality of Her pet – project, Hannah May Foundation, will as usual, distribute empowerment items to Abians as part of Hannah May Foundation’s cardinal objectives to bring succor to humanity and show love and care to Abians particularly, on Monday June 30, 2014 at the Abia State Skills Acquisition center, opposite Nnamdi Azikiwe State Secretariat, Umuahia, at 10am.
Lady Mercy Odochi Orji has proved that her emergence in our political life is not accidental but that, is service-oriented and one with a mandate from God to do good to humanity.
Through her pet-Project, Hannah May Foundation, Abia First Lady a year ago, provided empowerment items to over 850 Abians and non-Abians to break the barriers of poverty ravaging the people.
The issue of provision of bungalows to the aged and indigent men and women spread through the three (3) geographical zones of the state is alluring. One of the House Recipients, Mazi Onukwe, an octogenarian from Eziama Ubakala got a 5-bedroom bungalow furnished with a generating set and household items and foodstuff, while another from Obingwa had the keys of her bungalow handed over to her with a water borehole and a generating set to power the borehole to provide economic base to that family.
Hannah May Foundation has equally provided over 500 Nigerians with artificial walking limbs and legs, while in collaboration with SURE-P over 1,000 Abians, made up of youth, widows and women have undergone tutelage in various skills and trades e.g., interior decoration, computer, dressmaking, fashion designing, soap making and in beauty products making, weaving, fish farming and poultry etc. the programme is still on-going with many Abians being empowered.
Today, women are politically conscious. Thanks to Her Excellency who has impressed it upon her husband Chief T.A. Orji Ochendo global for women to be effectively represented in both elective and appointive positions, e.g; a woman today, is the Chief Judge of Abia State among other notable appointments. Incontrovertibly, with the continued awareness and enlightenment, more women are expected in decision/policy making positions.
Currently, more women have gone for pilgrimage to Isreal through the efforts of Abia state First Lady.
Honour must be given to the Chairman, South East Governor’s forum.
As Abians are empowered today by Hannah May Foundation, we will continue to give gratitude to God for the inception of Lady Mercy Odochi Orji, the woman with the heart of Gold in our political life.
Well done.
RALPH IGBOKWE
