Lawrence Ndubeze, Awka
It was a Christmas to remember for Mrs. Nkechinyere Nwafor, a 60-year-old widow in Onneh community, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, as the Ezeakunne Foundation gifted her a three-bedroom bungalow during its 2025 empowerment programme.
The empowerment event, held at Umuezeamasi village, Onneh, also featured the distribution of four shuttle buses and over 300 bags of rice to the needy and less privileged members of the community.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Ezeakunne Foundation, Nze Vincent Nwankwo, said the empowerment programme is an annual initiative aimed at uplifting the poor and vulnerable in the community. He explained that the programme, which began 10 years ago, was designed to help lift people out of poverty and suffering.
“The empowerment is an annual event and my way of thanking God for His many blessings. God has blessed me, and in the spirit of giving, I give to the poor to make their lives better,” he said.
“It is good to take stock at the end of the year and thank God for what He has done. Showing appreciation brings success. This event is to thank God for what He has done in my life and in my family.
“For over 10 years now, I have built houses for widows who have no shelter and empowered youths to engage in meaningful ventures that will make them useful to society.
“I also distribute rice and other food items to members of my community every December 30 or 31 as a way of appreciating God for His mercies and blessings throughout the year.”
Nwankwo revealed that his passion for empowerment stemmed from his personal experience of poverty. He recounted his humble beginnings, noting that he once lived in a one-room apartment with just a bag of rice, but is now in a position to give back to society.
“I started life as a poor man and I know what it means to be poor. Poverty is one of the worst things that can happen to an individual or family. Giving is not about having so much, but about sharing the little one has,” he said.
He called on wealthy and affluent individuals to take a proactive role in empowering the less fortunate, stressing that such acts of kindness would help create a better society. He emphasized that empowering the poor should be a collective responsibility and urged those with resources to contribute to the well-being of others.
He also advised beneficiaries to use the gifts wisely and responsibly, describing them as blessings from God and warning against wastefulness and unnecessary display.
“These gifts are divine provisions. Make the most of them. Do not use them to show off or waste them. Instead, let them be stepping stones for your growth and development. Invest wisely, improve your life and the lives of others, and always remember the spirit of gratitude and kindness that brought them to you,” he said.
Speaking to Ikengaonline shortly after receiving the keys to her new house, Mrs. Nwafor said she had lost hope of ever owning a home following the death of her husband 13 years ago.
“My husband died in 2012, exactly 13 years ago. Before his death, we lived in his family house, and after he passed, I lost hope of ever having a house of my own.
“Today, God has done it for me through Vincent. I am the second person he has gifted a house to. My prayer is that God will continue to bless and sustain him and give him more resources to bless others,” she said.
Other beneficiaries, including Mr. Elozonachukwu Ezulike, also expressed gratitude to the foundation, pledging to make good use of the shuttle buses and other items given to them.
