By Remi Johnson
Individuals that are wealthy have been urged to always give back to the society, especially their immediate communities and places of origin for National Development.
Chairman Okam Forum, Chief Emmanuel Ameh, at a briefing in Abuja, said this would give succor and hope to the less priviledged at the grassroots.
He explained that Okam Forum is an Association of natives of Orokam in Ogbadibo Local Government Area of Benue state residing in FCT, who have decided to pull resources together to assist their community by way of empowering the less privileged, youths,widows and indigent students.
The Chairman of the Forum explained that the group has earnmarked N12.5m to empower widows in 50 clusters in small and medium scale businesses or cottage industries like garri and palm oil processing, with N250,000 for each cluster.
To curb the high index of out of school children in OROKAM due to the inability of many poor families to finance the education of their wards, Chief Ameh said 200 identified brilliant indigent students in secondary and tertiary institutions would be given #100.000 annually in form of scholarship to help them further their education.
He listed other areas the Forum will intervene to include N20m Health Support Programme for community Health Insurance; and N5m Revolving drug fund and medicare to reduce infant and maternal mortality, and diseases prevalent in OROKAM.
He also explained that the Association during its 2023 bi-annual community service awards, would recognise many national icons and members of the forum for their services and commitment to community development within the Idoma Nation, and Nigeria at large.
“A major highlight of the event will be flag off of some Progressive Programmes through an endowment fund to bring relief to the downtrodden within Orakam and the Idoma Nation.” Ameh said.
On his part, the Chairman Publicity Committee, and a lecturer with Open University, Dr Mathew Oguche,who said the rationale is to contribute to community development, noted that Government alone cannot effectively meet al the needs of citizens, hence the need for Philanthropic interventions in some areas.
Responding to questions on the forthcoming election, Ambassador Amuta Onogwe prayed for God’s will to be done for a better Nigeria, and assured that OROKAM residents were well sensitized to collect their PVCs and vote the candidate of their choice for a peaceful and successful elections.
EDITED BY GRACE NAMIJI