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• Set to raise N250m intervention fund
From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
The Order of Knights of St Mulumba (KSM), Nigeria, Onitsha Metropolitan Council, has unveiled an endowment fund and integrated charity initiative aimed at raising more than N250 million to strengthen its humanitarian interventions across Nigeria and beyond.
The initiative was unveiled on Saturday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of the Catholic Church, Onitsha, with Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, billed to attend, while Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, was the special guest of honour.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Anambra South Senatorial District in the forthcoming election, Dr Ebuka Onunkwo, was the presenter of the event and was represented by a delegate.
Speaking on the initiative, the Supreme Leader of the Order, Sir Steve Zakari Adehi (CKSS/SAN/CKSM), said the programme was designed to raise funds to expand the organisation’s charity work and reach more vulnerable people in society.
Adehi said KSM had, over the years, supported widows, indigent students, hospital patients, prisoners and churches, among others.
He disclosed that the organisation had built houses for widows and provided scholarships to numerous indigent students to enable them access quality education.
According to him, the organisation also pays hospital bills, settles fines for prisoners and supports various church projects.
Adehi said he was not merely asking members and friends of the organisation to contribute to the endowment fund, adding that he had personally committed a substantial amount of money to the initiative, alongside contributions from friends and well-wishers of the Knighthood.
“We can’t enumerate the number of beneficiaries of these engagements across Nigeria, Cameroon and Uganda, where we have established our presence.
“Over 500 people alone have benefited this year, with each receiving N250,000 for empowerment. In the recent past, we have built 30 houses for widows and lots more. We have impacted positively on the lives of many across Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
Adehi explained that the organisation leveraged the support of friends, relations and well-wishers to raise funds for its humanitarian programmes.
He added that some prominent Nigerians, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, among others, had supported the organisation’s charity efforts.
Speaking on politics, Adehi encouraged members of the Knighthood to participate actively in the political process, saying Christians could only influence political decisions by becoming active participants.
He attributed the emergence of the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket to what he described as inadequate participation by many Christians in politics, including at the political party level.
Also speaking, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, expressed concern over the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, saying it could be interpreted by some Christians as an indication that their political participation was not being sufficiently considered.
He, however, said he would not take a partisan position because of his role as a pastor.
“But I’m not talking about that because I’m a pastor and my job is like a referee in this regard. I will blow the whistle when someone scores and blow the whistle when there is a foul play,” Ezeokafor said.
In his address, the Grand Knight, Onitsha Metropolitan Council, Hon. Sir Jude Mbaegbu, said the endowment fund was conceived by Supreme Knight Adehi with the support of others.
He said the initiative was designed to provide strategic leadership, establish and expand endowment funds, and mobilise resources for the sustainability of KSM’s humanitarian activities.
