Edafe Unuezi Oduh Foundation Puts Smiles On Faces Of The Needy

————-By Akpos Oghenetega,—————–

 

For some, money is made for the sake of it. For others, it is made so it can be used to serve humanity. Philanthropy is all about the latter and that is what money means for Engr. Edafe Unuezi Oduh.

 

Pained by the level of poverty in Isoko nation of Delta state, South-South Nigeria and his love for education, Engr. Edafe Unuezi Oduh, who hails from Aviara, Isoko South local government area of the state, established the Edafe Unuezi Oduh Foundation through which he would empower his people especially the empowerment of widows, pupils, and students among others as its primary focus.

The Bible puts it poignantly, money, it says, answered all things. Indeed, in human existence, the most important thing after God is money. That is why wealthy people enjoy exalted and respected position in society, especially those who use their money to serve others. For such people, wealth is nothing if it is not used to serve God and humanity, to empower the poor and the less-privileged in the society. In other words, money is nothing if it is not used for what is generally called philanthropy.

That is the way Isoko youngest philanthropist, Engr. Edafe Unuezi Oduh, looks at wealth, something to be used to help the poor and the less privileged around him. There is evidence of this personal conviction aplenty around Oduh.

Speaking to newsmen on what informed the establishment of the Edafe Unuezi Oduh Foundation, the founder and Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of the Foundation, Engr. Oduh Edafe Unuezi, said the foundation was established because of his love for education and the less privileged.

According to him, “our aim is to provide relevant and sustainable education and mentoring, for economic and social empowerment for the poor and less privileged, in order to help them achieve their dreams and aspirations.

“We believe that the Lord God Almighty, the creator of the heavens and the earth owns the wealth of the land and desires that all prosper in the Land.

“We believe that those who are custodians of the wealth of God need to provide for the less privileged that all creation might flourish and give God glory. Every person should have the opportunity to achieve his dreams and aspirations and obtain a Solid foundation for a successful life.

“To engage in charitable activities that will advance the social and economic wellbeing of the less privileged through the promotion of sustainable education, mentoring and skills acquisition in order to harness and focus the potentials of the less privileged for the social and economic growth and development of Isoko nation and indeed Delta state and Nigeria.”

The Foundation recently distributed over 50,000 of textbooks to primary and secondary schools in Isoko nation in its back to school programme.

During the programme, the Foundation visited a number of schools in Isoko North local government council where over 20,000 notebooks were distributed to pupils and schools.

Among the schools visited includes, Egburie Primary School, Amawhe Primary School, Bovi Primary School, Egware Primary School, Ekwerigbe Primary School in Ozoro town.

Other school visited in Isoko North local government area, Uthatho Primary School, Akiewhe -Owhe, Ogu Primary School, Otor -Igho Owhe, Uruogbe Primary School, Owhelogbo, Owhelogbo Primary School, Owhelogbo, Orohpohpo Primary School, Owhelogbo as well as Ebe Primary School, Ovrode, Ellu Primary School, Ellu, Ovie Primary School, Ellu, Eni Primary School, Ellu among others.

The back to school programme also took the Foundation to primary and secondary schools across Isoko South local government area where over 30,000 notebooks were distributed to pupils and students of Odoro Primary School, Owhara Primary School, Uzih Primary School, ICS Primary School, Ozaha Primary School all in Oleh town.

The gesture was also extended to the following schools, Otaviara Primary School, Aviara, Ohrode Primary School, Aviara, Ewoma Primary School, Ivrogbo-Irri, Atanaru Primary School, Uro-Irri, Abriku Primary School, Ada-Irri, Elo-Oghene Primary School, Bethel, Oyede Primary School, Oyede, Ivori Primary School, Ivori- Irri and Irri Primary School, Irri.

While the following schools, Abiogu Grammar School, Ewokpaka, Aka Primary School, Ukpude, Ezetuhru Primary School, Araya Primary School were not left out.

The Foundation during Umeh Carnival held in October 1^st, 2017, the founder of Edafe Unuezi Oduh Foundation, Engr. Oduh and members of his team at the Carnival presented 250 notebooks as part of his back to school programme to the President General of the community.

According to Engr. Oduh “I must say that poverty has ravaged the face of Isoko to the extent that pupils and even students now go to school on bare foot and some of them don’t even have writing materials, it is an eyesore and disheartening. You won’t believe the state of decay in our educational system in Isoko. God willing, the foundation will do more than what we are doing now in schools across Isoko land in the near future.

“The high rate of poverty in Isoko land is very alarming, I must confess. The back to school programme idea was conceived so as to lift some burdens off the shoulder of parents. I recall growing up as a child how parents use to run halter skater in trying to send their children back to school; hence the foundation took it upon herself to lend a helping hand through the provision of books to all schools in Isoko land.

“When you invest in the education of children; you are impacting on the society positively. That’s why the foundation is giving from the little she has by investing in the education of the future generation and other vital areas of the society.

“Presently, we are organizing a free JAMB lectures. And under the free JAMB lecture we are coming up with a scholarship scheme for the best students from Isoko North and South. By the special grace of God, the Foundation shall carter for them through the higher institution.

“we are also working to deliver some chairs to Adam Igbudu Memorial Secondary School, 50 chairs to be precise and few days ago it was brought to my notice that Iyede Commercial Secondary School, also lack chairs which the Foundation is also looking forward to provide.

“In Oleh, at Uzi and Owara primary schools, we are looking at how to fix the classrooms there. The headmaster’s offices in the two schools are bad shape and the Foundation attention was drawn to it. So, in the next couples of days they will be renovated for habitation because; conducive environment is a key to quality learning.

“The Edafe Unuezi Oduh Foundation is also the sponsor of the ongoing Isoko unity cup 2017. For some time now, there have crisis in Isoko nation and I came up with the football competition so that we can bring unity to the Isoko nation. We believe so much that when a competition like this is taking place; it brings unity among the communities. So, that is why the foundation embarked on this football competition.” Oduh stated.

On what he would want to be remembered for, founder of the Edafe Unuezi Oduh Foundation, said he is not doing what he is doing for people to pay him back. “Well, the fact is when you do good deed; you don’t expect people to pay you back with anything. You are just doing it because God placed it in your heart to do this good thing. God knows my reward that he has for me. No human reward is attached to what I am doing. It is just a philanthropic work, there is no motive towards that, it is the Foundation’s nature to do this work, to just put a smile on humanity, there is no motive, it is just the goodwill.”

On his message for the Isoko nation, Oduh has this to say; “We the Isoko sons and daughters, if we can put ourselves together and work as a team, Isoko will be a greater nation. The well to do Isoko sons and daughters should come back home, let us work and bring Isoko to limelight.

“Like they say, no place is like home. When the foundation is properly laid, the building will be solid. So, I say to my fellow Isoko people that they should come back home and join hands with us to build our fathers’ land which is Isoko. We don’t have anywhere to call our home apart from Isoko. Tomorrow you can boast of where you are from if the place is good and it’s worth living.

He also admonished the Isoko youth not undermine their abilities; “because like they said, when they see the youth they say they are touts but I want to let them know that when you know what you are carrying, no matter the challenges, you won’t look down on yourself. All I just want to tell them is that they should believe in themselves and they should know that they are the leaders of tomorrow and the tomorrow is now. Let them have this courage that they have something that they can offer to the society, no matter how small it is.”