Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, has distributed cartons of both exercise and text books, writing materials, office desks and other items to schools in the state in commemoration of his 73rd birthday.
Senator Orji who represented Abia Central in the Senate from 2015-2023, also donated food stuff including bags of rice and cartons of indomie noddles to some orphanages and homes for the physically- challenged in the state.
The gesture according to him, is meant to put smiles on the faces of the beneficiaries.
Presenting the items to the benefitting schools and orphanage homes through his former Liaison Officer, Hon. Ifeanyi Umere, Senator Orji said he would want to spend the rest of his life impacting positively on humanity.
According to him, life is all about positive impacts, hence his decision to identify with the less privileged.
Speaking at Ibeku High School, Senator Orji said he would continue to contribute towards the development of education considering its pivotal role in society.
He recalled that while in office both as Governor and Senator, he had given scholarship to hundreds of undergraduates particularly the indigent ones.
“Life is all about impacts. Senator T. A Orji has resolved to use his remaining years on earth to serve humanity just as he has always done.”
In his response the Principal of Ibeku (Senior Secondary), Mr Matthew Uzuegbu, commended the former Governor for the gesture and his numerous supports to the school.
Similarly, the Principal of Junior Secondary session, Mrs Ada Ocho who said Senator Orji had always supported the school, recalled how the former Governor’s wife, Mrs Odochi Orji, an alumnus of the school, built a pavilion for them.
She promised that the books meant for the students would be distributed to them accordingly.
Similarly, the Senior Prefect, Master Valentine Ibe, showered praises on the former Governor saying that the books would lessen financial burden on their parents.
In the same vein, Reverend Sister Ugonna Anyanwu in charge of St. Vincent De Paul Centre for the Mentally and Physically Challenged, Umuafai Umuahia, commended Senator Orji, for extending the gesture to inmates of the home.
She said that feeding the 50 inmates of the home had been a major challenge of the home.
“This morning, we managed the last one and half carton of indomie we had here. Thank God he remembered us and sent these cartons and bags of rice.
“We have some inmates here who have stayed for 20 years, and abandoned by their owners. Government visits us occasionally but we need more help.”
In her separate response, the Proprietress of Agape Charity Home Old Umuahia, Rose Okonkwo, also commended Senator Orji for always empathising with the inmates of the home.
She said that the best way to develop society was to invest in human development.
Mrs Okonkwo who identified lack of access to pediatric hospital, lack of power, poor access road, and feeding as part of the major challenges of the home, solicited more help from members of the public.
The senator extended the donation to other schools in the state.
Senator Orji was sworn in as Abia Governor in 2007, and held sway for eight years before moving to the Senate in 2015 where he also stayed for eight years before retiring from active politics.
