By Our Reporter
A former speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Eugene Odo on Saturday in Enugu inaugurated an empowerment foundation aimed at assisting indigent members of the society.
Odo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said that the foundation known as ‘Offiaduru Foundation’ was in honour of his late father, Chief Samuel Odo who died in 1996.
He said that the foundation co-founded by his other siblings would focus on the provision of interest-free loans to skilled Nigerians and payment of school fees for indigent students.
The former speaker said that the gesture was part of the family’s contributions toward sustaining the legacies of their late father who was notable for his service to humanity.
“The major financiers of this foundation will be me, my seven other siblings alongside our mother.
“The foundation will assist the less privileged, support indigent pupils and students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
“We will also provide interest-free loans to skilled young men and women in the society,” he said.
Odo said that the foundation would be coordinated by the Parish Priest, St. Christopher Catholic Church, Ukehe, Rev. Fr. Valentine Mba.
He said that the beneficiaries of their programmes would be selected from any part of the state devoid of political affiliation, religious inclinations, age and educational status.
Also, Mba commended the family for setting up the foundation designed to put smiles on the faces of the indigent members of the society.
The clergy said that only beneficiaries that truly deserved the intervention programmes of the foundation would carefully be selected.
The priest called on other well placed families to emulate the good gesture of the Odo family and to touch lives of Nigerians.
Other members and financier of the group are Mrs. Gloria Odo, Mrs Ukamaka Ugwu, Dr. Eric Odo, Mr Chidi Odo, Mrs Ifeoma Aka, Mrs Ebere Obayi, Mrs Nnedinso Onah and Miss Agatha Odo.