By Leonard Okachie
An entrepreneur and philanthropist in Abia, Dr Evangeline Ozonyiri, has expressed satisfaction with Gov. Alex Otti’s leadership in the state, describing him as “God-sent”.
Ozonyiri made the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of an empowerment programme at Leru Central School Field, Umuchieze in Umunneochi Local Government Area of the state.
The annual charity event for the less privileged in the area was being sponsored by Ivyline Care Foundation, a non-profit organisation, dedicated to eradicating hunger, alleviating poverty, and improving healthcare access in vulnerable communities.
Ozonyiri, who is the Founder and Chief Executive of the foundation, said that “Abia is blessed to have Otti as governor”.
According to her, the governor has been making efforts to improve the lives of Abia residents through different initiatives, including infrastructure development, healthcare reforms, educational enhancement, social welfare and others.
She said: “Abia has never had it this good when it comes to political affairs in Nigeria.
“We have been crying over the years and we’re happy that God has blessed us with an amazing governor, who has done awesomely well in the few years he’s been in office.
“I pray he continues to do wonders. I call him my amazing governor and I’m proud to be from Abia.
“Back in the years, I was not so proud to say I’m from Abia, but now I can categorically say that, yes, I’m from Abia because of the development we’ve had so far.”
Ozonyiri, who is also the Chief Executive and Managing Director of E.M.K Integrated Services Limited, particularly commended the governor for curbing insecurity in Umunneochi which, she said, used to be dreaded.
“Umunneochi is peaceful. There is security now and a great number of our people came home this festive period to participate in our community’s cultural festival,” she said.
However, Ozonyiri regretted that her Leru Community had yet to be connected to the national grid for electricity.
“We are a bit disadvantaged in the state.
“We don’t have electricity yet in my community, but I know His Excellency has reached out to us to ask us what we want.
“I know soon he’ll be here to do what he has promised to do for us,” she said.
Speaking about her empowerment programme, she disclosed that it’s been a self-financed project over the years, in loving honour and memory of her late parents, Rev. Chinyere and Rev. Sorochi Ozonyiri.
“I have been doing this over the years and will continue to do it not just for people in Abia, but also in other states in the country,” she said.
NAN reports that the foundation distributed food and non food items as well as cash gifts worth millions of naira to some vulnerable households among the seven villages in Leru – Umuchieze.
Among the items donated were bags of rice, gallons of vegetable oil, cartons of tomato pastes, food spices, bags of salt, clothing, buckets, writing materials and others.
Ozonyiri introduced beauty pageant with cash prizes to the colourful event, saying that she was passionate about the development of the girl child.
The President-General, Leru-Umuchieze, Mr Friday Ugwaka, thanked Ozonyiri for giving back to society, while calling on other privileged individuals to emulate her.
Also speaking in an interview, Ugwaka said, “This our daughter has been doing this every year and we don’t know how to thank her, but we pray that the Almighty God will keep her to continue to do this.”(NAN)
