Sir Emmanuel Ndubuisi Mbaka Foundation, a non- governmental organisation, has purchased  tricycles, known as keke, for  youths  in Isuikwuato local government area of Abia State under the Foundation’s poverty alleviation and empowerment programme.

The coordinator of Ndubuisi Mbaka Foundation, Mr. Goddy Nnorom, said  the Foundation has taken delivery of the first batch of the tricycles numbering 20 worth over N10 million and 12  distributed to  beneficiaries. Nnorom explained that the programme is an on-going one, and  will be extended to other local government areas as well as other states of the federation. “

The beauty of it is that the keke is being given to a beneficiary registered to avoid the beneficiary from the hassles of raising money to register the keke, thereby making it easier to use as soon as they receive the largesse, it guarantees instant use”, he added. “The tricycles are being given to the beneficiaries on an interest-free loan. The loan is expected to be a revolving one, so that many more people in the state will benefit from the Foundation’s project”.

According to the spokesman, an office complex is under construction at Isuikwuato Local Government Secretariat, Mbalano which, when completed, will serve as the corporate office of the Foundation.

He continued: “Other projects embarked by the Foundation are the non-interest revolving loan to youths and  a soccer tourney. The loan is for the youths to engage in productive and profit yielding ventures. The Foundation spreads the loan refund up to three years to prevent stress on the recipients. The period of repayment is being spread over a period of three  years.

“However, the football competition holds during at Christmas and  is not only designed to promote sports and physical development but also to create a social and recreational environment for the teeming holiday makers prevalent at the period. The Foundation has endowed  N1 million for the  winners of the annual football competition”.

The Foundation, Nnorom said, in 2011, built a church cathedral in Eluama, Isuikwuato for the Catholic Church.  He said the Catholic church building was the Foundation’s commitment to supporting the work of God as parishioners at St. Anne’s will now worship in an environment good enough for the angels.

Other contributions of the Foundation include distribution of books and other learning materials to secondary schools in Isuikwuato to enhance learning and academic excellence. The spokesman for the Foundation indicated that the gesture will be replicated in other states of the federation in due course.

The Foundation gives financial assistance to indigent citizens. Nnorom disclosed that it  is  an on-going project. “This has been the aspiration of the Foundation to reach out to impoverished citizens”, he stated:  adding that the Foundation is desirous of bringing some of the facilities  enjoyed in urban cities to his community, Isuikwuato. To this end, the Foundation intends to construct recreational and public utility facilities in the community to attract people to the community.

The Foundation has also spread its activities beyond Abia State.  It constructed a borehole for the Jahi community near Mabushi in  Abuja  and also boosted electricity in that community by installing a 500kva transformer there.  By this, the Foundation brought succor  to Jahi, which has been without electricity or water for over 50 years.

This is in line with the mission of the Foundation to provide succor to the needy and put smiles on the faces of indigent Nigerians. By these gestures, Sir Ndubuisi Foundation complements efforts of government in providing public utilities to neglected communities