Follow Us on Google
From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The Chairman of Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Igwe Samuel Asadu (Igwe Ogadagidi) has built and donated a 3-bedroom and parlour bungalow to an indigent member of his neighbouring community.
The furnished 3-bedroom and parlour bungalow building, with a separate kitchen, toilets, and bathroom, was donated to Mr Nnamdi Onah, a father of four and a commercial motorcycle rider from Amoba in Akpa Edem, Nsukka, by the traditional ruler.
Speaking in Nsukka on Monday during a ceremony to hand over the building to the beneficiary, Igwe Asadu, who is also the Traditional Ruler of Edem-Ani Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, disclosed that the building was the 10th house he had built and donated to indigent members of the Edem in the last decade.
He said he was touched when he heard that the beneficiary was living in a dilapidated family house with his wife and children without having money to renovate it or build a new one.
“Helping others is a wonderful way to make a positive impact and personal fulfilment in society. To the glory of God, and with special thanks to my lovely wife for her unflinching support, this building is the 10th house I have built and donated to indigent members of society.
“I am not helping the poor or building houses to demonstrate that I am the richest in the community; no, it is because of the empathy and sympathy I have for humanity, and my desire to give the less privileged ones in society a good sense of belonging.
“My prayers are that this house will be a turning point in the life of Mr Onah and his family. They will live long in this house, train and nurture their children here,” he said.
The traditional ruler, who is the immediate past Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers, appreciated the State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, for providing him with the platform to serve and help his people.
“I want to seize this opportunity to thank and appreciate the State Governor, His Excellency Dr Peter Mbah, for his good leadership in Enugu State, as well as providing me with the platform to serve and make a positive impact in the lives of my people, especially the less privileged ones,” Igwe Ogadagidi said.
Responding, the visibly elated Mr Onah was so emotional while he danced alongside friends and well-wishers. The father of four, who was dumbfounded, showered praises and blessings on the Royal Father.
“I’m overjoyed and short of words. Igwe Ogadagidi has rescued my family and me with a beautiful brand new house, oh! Thank you Jesus, thank you, Igwe Ogadagidi,” he said.
Mr Onah, who explained that he and his family were living in their family house with a leaking roof, stated that the new house was to him like a “small London.”
He showered more praises on the monarch, saying, “I never imagined that I would be living in a well-finished 3-bedroom and parlour bungalow with modern aluminium roofing sheets, modern toilet and kitchen facilities, alumaco windows with iron doors, and stylish floor tiles all over.”
Also speaking, the wife of the beneficiary, Mrs Ginika Onah, described the traditional ruler’s gesture as uncommon, adding that Igwe’s love for humanity is unparalleled.
Mrs Onah prayed that God will give the traditional ruler long life and prosperity.
“This is a typical example of ‘from grass to grace’. From a dilapidated building to a brand new house. May God continue to guide, bless and protect Igwe Ogadagidi for his magnanimity and the special love he has for the poor and the needy,” she said.
Chief John Okanyi, Chief of Staff to the traditional ruler, in an interview with our reporter, noted that the monarch is widely recognized and celebrated for his extensive humanitarian and philanthropic works, adding that building houses for poor people is now a regular thing for him.
According to him, the traditional ruler’s target is how to impact and improve the lives of the less privileged people, and in doing so, he has turned the fortunes of his Edem-Ani community around in terms of basic social amenities, youths, and women empowerment.
“Igwe Ogadagidi built, equipped and donated a free hospital to the community, and just recently he made history by providing the community with its first-ever tarred road.
“He has sponsored the reticulation of water to ensure that all strategic areas of the community have access to clean and potable pipe-borne water.
“He established a Food Bank, where indigent members of the community eat food for free daily, and he has pledged to keep the Food Bank operational throughout his reign.
“Over fifteen youths from our community are in different countries of Europe doing their post-graduate programmes under his sponsorship; this is coupled with other numerous things like building houses for the widows, sponsoring and supporting neighbourhood watch, as well as using his monthly salary to pay the elders’ council members in the community, among others, Chief Okanyi said.
The high point of the occasion was the cutting of the building tape by Igwe Asadu, and the presentation of a mature native ram to the Igwe by Mr Onah in appreciation of the new house.
