…urges wealthy Nigerians to support vulnerable

By Esther Onyegbula

 Eze Dr Amb Chika Nwokedi (Eze Okpoko Okpoko I na Obodoukwu), on Saturday empowered 211 widows, widowers and indigent residents during the fifth edition of his annual humanitarian outreach, calling on affluent Nigerians and traditional rulers to use their resources to improve the lives of the less privileged.

The outreach, held in Lagos alongside members of his cabinet and supporters, saw beneficiaries receive bags of rice, cartons of noodles, other food items and financial support, while hundreds of residents also benefited from free medical screening.

Speaking at the outreach, Nwokedi said the initiative was the fulfilment of a covenant he made with God after enduring years of hardship following his arrival in Lagos in 1990.

According to him, he arrived in the city with nothing, slept in a mechanic shop for  several years because he had no accommodation, survived by doing menial jobs and vowed that if God prospered him, he would dedicate his life to helping others.

“I thank God for today. Every June, September and December, I organise this outreach to support widows, widowers and those who cannot afford food.

“I came to Lagos in 1990 without anything. I had nowhere to sleep. I slept in a shop for years, bathed outside and survived by carrying engines, gearboxes, blocks and sand just to feed.

“I prayed that if God blessed me, I would touch lives and help those who were abandoned the same way I was. What you are seeing today is the fulfilment of that promise,” he said.

The traditional ruler described this year’s edition as unique, saying he funded the entire programme without seeking donations after receiving what he described as divine instruction not to solicit financial contributions.

“Last year, some friends supported me. But this year, God told me not to ask anybody for one naira. I obeyed, and God made everything possible,” he stated.

Nwokedi said his humanitarian interventions extend beyond food distribution, noting that he had built houses for widows and indigent families in his hometown, donated parcels of land to residents in Lagos, paid hospital bills, settled court fines, sponsored education and provided start-up capital for several small businesses.

He stressed that compassion, rather than wealth, determines a person’s willingness to help others.

“It is not the person who has money that helps people. It is the person who has a good heart. I don’t have excess money, but whenever God directs me to help someone, I obey.

“I don’t want anybody to suffer the way I suffered. Whenever I have and refuse to give, my spirit will not allow me to rest,” he added.

The monarch urged fellow traditional rulers to complement their positions with acts of service and charity.

“I want other Ezes to emulate this. We should not just wear expensive clothes and occupy positions. We should open doors for people and touch lives.

“When we leave this world, people will not remember our houses or cars. They will remember the lives we impacted,” he said.

He also encouraged beneficiaries to extend similar kindness to others whenever they become financially successful.

“If I touch your life today, tell your children that tomorrow, when God blesses them, they should also touch another person’s life,” he said.

Delivering a sermon at the event, Prophetess Kelechi Ezenwata urged widows and other vulnerable persons not to lose hope despite life’s challenges, describing care for widows and the less privileged as an expression of genuine Christian faith.

Quoting James 1:27, the cleric said: “Pure religion before God is to care for the fatherless and widows in their affliction. What our king is doing today is practical Christianity.”

She prayed for divine protection, long life and greater blessings for the monarch, saying God would continue to reward him for his generosity.

Some beneficiaries also recounted how Nwokedi’s interventions had transformed their lives.

Mrs. Anu Olumikeye, who said she had benefited from the programme for about five years, disclosed that beyond food assistance, the monarch helped her establish a Point of Sale, POS, business.

“Whenever I need help, he responds. There was a time I told him I wanted to start a POS business and he immediately transferred the money. That business is what I am still doing today.

“He has been putting food on my table for years. Apart from God, he is my helper,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Mrs. Rita Anabowog, described the traditional ruler as “a man with a golden heart” who assists people irrespective of their ethnic background.

“He does not care whether you are Igbo, Yoruba or from any other tribe. If you are in need, he will help you.

“He has helped many families, intervened in difficult situations and continues to support widows and the less privileged. More leaders should emulate what he is doing,” she said.