By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu
Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu, the wife of Abia State Governor, has lived up to the quote of Mother Theresa that says spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
Deaconess Ikpeazu has spread love everywhere and that is why the likes of the indigent widows from Ohuhu and Amuzukwu communities, both in Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state, who benefited two-bedroom bungalow each from the governor’s wife, would not forget this gesture in a hurry because these gestures have registered an imprint in their memories.
So, it is with other indigent widows and the blind man spread across the local government areas of the state who also benefited from the magnanimity of Mrs Ikpeazu.
Indeed, Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu deserves a pat in the back for her philanthropic gestures. She has truly demonstrated the words of Eldon Tanner that “service is the rent we pay for living on earth” and some scriptures emphasise the need for us to render humanitarian services; and the scriptures “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbour, ‘Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you’—when you already have it with you. — Proverbs 3:27-28; “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” — Proverbs 19:17.
She has touched lives and has continued doing so through the instrumentality of her pet project, Vicar Hope Foundation.
These objectives are: (a) assisting the physically challenged and vulnerable persons, (b) to provide a platform for enhancing the status of women and children through education, empowerment, welfare and healthcare provision (c) to locate, and establish indigent widows and other person as well as give love and succour to less privileged, the motherless babies and young orphans, (d) to material assistance, financial support, moral assistance and social amenities to the less privileged as well as impart skills that would make them self-reliant. (e) to carry out enlightenment campaigns, to sensitize against and combat deadly diseases, health challenges, poverty, obnoxious widowhood and teenage girl practices, as well as promote women and child rights.