By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – Dr. Chris Ifediora, founder of the Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) Foundation, has won the Nigerian ‘Diaspora Humanitarian of the Year’ at the 6th edition of the Leadership Excellence (LEEX) Awards in Abuja.

Ifediora received the highest number of votes for the award, recognizing his humanitarian impact across Nigeria, Australia, and beyond.

The ceremony, which celebrated 40 Nigerians from various sectors, acknowledged his leadership in health, education, and social welfare through the OCI Foundation.

Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Rufai, Networking Manager of the OCI Foundation, represented Ifediora at the event and lauded his visionary leadership.

The foundation’s work spans critical health initiatives, including breast and cervical cancer awareness, alongside educational scholarships aimed at supporting disadvantaged students. These efforts have made a significant impact both in Nigeria and abroad.

This recognition follows Ifediora’s receipt of an ‘Award of Honour as a Trailblazer’ by the Catholic Women Organization of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Anambra State, in acknowledgment of his role as a visionary leader who paves the way for others to follow.

He also received the ‘Education Philanthropy Award’ at the Ninth International Interdisciplinary Conference held at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra, honoring his contributions to health and education.

In a chat with journalists, Dr. Ifediora discussed the expansion of the OCI Foundation’s scholarship programme, which now includes recipients from across Nigeria, broadening its impact beyond Anambra State.

According to him, the foundation also continues to offer a literary award to medical students, encouraging research and academic excellence.

Ifediora stressed the importance of education in empowering Nigeria’s youth and its role in tackling health challenges, including vaccine hesitancy and cancer prevention.

Dr. Ifediora also shared that the foundation has successfully passed two legislative bills through the National Assembly, which are now awaiting presidential assent.

Despite challenges such as funding shortages and navigating bureaucracy, Ifediora remains committed to addressing Nigeria’s health and educational challenges, aiming for sustainable and wide-reaching reforms.

He said, “Many classmates dropped out because they couldn’t afford to continue, often due to losing a parent. Even in medical school, many struggled to pay tuition and other expenses. Poverty threatens young people who could contribute to the country’s development. These experiences motivated our scholarship schemes.

“Education empowers millions of young Nigerians in a sustainable way. It is a key vehicle for promoting health.

“In terms of health, we have two legislative bills that have passed through the National Assembly and are awaiting presidential assent.

“Vaccine hesitancy is a major issue in Nigeria, and by providing knowledge, we can encourage people to support government initiatives on preventive measures.

“We also offer a literary award for undergraduate medical students in Nigerian institutions, which has been ongoing for about 4-5 years. The aim is to inspire students to develop literary and research skills that will help them become more productive doctors.

“Some of the biggest challenges in my philanthropic journey include unrealistic expectations from those we aim to help. People may assume we’re funded by Western countries and expect a share of a perceived large budget, which can threaten the program’s sustainability.

“Another challenge is navigating government bureaucracy to implement sustainable, wide-reaching, and cost-effective policies. Lastly, funding is a significant issue. Running a philanthropic organization is expensive, especially in a place like Nigeria where the needs and demands for funds are endless.”