By Jeff Ejiofor
Neke Development Foundation is an association of patriotic individuals of Neke extraction drawn from the five villages that make up Neke. The association, founded in the year 2020, is piloted by people of like minds who mostly reside in the western world where provision of social amenities is a norm hence, the burning desire in them to change the narrative of social development in Neke.
They have since the inception of the association promoted social welfare in Neke with a view to uplifting the community in all facets of development. It is an association of eminent sons and daughters of the land who feel the pains of rural dwellers of Neke with a determined vigour to make a difference.
During the covid economic crisis in 2020, the foundation galvanised Neke people from all walks of life and provided palliatives to our people at home.The programme was well coordinated and Neke once again re-enacted that IGWE BU IKE spirit to handle a pressing issue.The response was massive and legendary typical of Neke oka.
In 2021, the foundation conceived a laudable project of road sign installation at strategic points of Neke roads to curb road traffic accidents and serve as guides to visitors. The project was successfully executed and since then our people have been enjoying smooth rides.
Concerned about the unpleasant situation of Neke’s voting strength, the foundation again sponsored the participation of our people in the voters registration exercise which took place in 2022 with the sum of one million naira. The foundation though not a political group, saw the need for Neke to be strategically positioned for greater political patronage in Enugu State by beefing up its voting strength.
In December 2022 also, the foundation provided another round of palliatives for the poor and less privileged Neke people mostly the elderly and young widows. They transversed the length and breath of Neke including our various Ndiagu settlements to distribute the palliatives to those who needed them. It was again another success story of NDF’s promotion of the well-being of Neke people.
Relentlessly disturbed about the plight of Neke rural dwellers, the foundation sought to renovate and rehabilitate the only skeletal health facility in Neke the same year 2022 but was advised otherwise by some stakeholders who felt that construction of a new and full-fledged hospital will address the health needs of Neke better.The idea was that rather than spending millions of naira to rehabilitate a badly dilapidated facility, building a new ultramodern hospital will be far better and more deserving of a large community like Neke.That was the genesis of the current hospital project which has been in the front burner of NDF’S agenda.
From the above chronicle, it is very clear that NDF is a blessing to Ndi Neke and deserves the support of every Neke person in its efforts to reposition Neke with accelerated development. Let us also note that the foundation is not a property of anybody in particular or any group of individuals, but a forum of all patriotic Neke people irrespective of class or gender. It is therefore our duty to ensure the success of its developmental efforts in the overall interest of our community.
God bless Neke
Jeff Ejiofor, Head, Media and Publicity of the Neke Development Foundation,wrote in from Neke, Enugu State.
