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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
In the spirit of being your brother’s keeper, Roy Kelechi Nwakamma from Ezinihitte Mbaise council area of Imo State, has through his Roy Foundation, empowered nine of his former classmates of 1984 -1990 set at the Government Secondary School, Owerri.
He achieved this via a two-week intensive training worth N360,000 for the participants, who had shown interest in fishery, poultry, piggery and snail farming.
The training was anchored by a veterinary doctor, Victor Onwuliri of Valerie Farms, who is a consultant in fishery, poultry, piggery and snail business.
After the training, the foundation, requested to provide site location to be used for the area of their interests and those who did were given N250,000 to commence their business.
A month after, an inspection was carried out by the foundation to evaluate the performance of the beneficiaries. And Nwakamma, who was satisfied by the progress made by the beneficiaries in their various area of business, had on March 31, made an additional fund of 365,000 to each of beneficiaries to enable them expand their businesses.
He told Daily Sun that he was inspired by God to give back to the society and felt it was wise to start with his classmates, whom he described as his brothers.
Nwakamma appealed to other members of the Old Boys Association Government Secondary School, Owerri to emulate his gesture to also reach out to members who need help. He said it is better to teach one how to fish instead of giving one fish all the time.
He said the next empowerment would be extended beyond his classmates and encouraged all the beneficiaries to utilize the opportunity given to them.
Also, he implored the political office holders to empower the youths in their constituencies instead of using them during the campaigns and abandoning them after winning the elections.
One of the beneficiaries, Destiny Udodiri Akunesi, secretary of the 1984 -1990 set, expressed gratitude to their old classmates for giving them means of livelihood.
He disclosed that Nwakamma had through their Old Boys’ WhatsApp platform announced that Roy Foundation would be sponsoring the training of any of his ex-classmates to learn different skills.
“The foundation had also said it was going to provide start up capital for the successful participants. But most people thought it was a joke. However, out of the 12 of us who had initially participated in the training only nine of us were able to fulfil of one of the requirements which is to provide a site location for our area of interest got the first tranche of N250,000.
“With the third funding, all the beneficiaries have been doing well and have started harvesting.”
Similarly, Anthony Njoku, who learnt piggery, implored other well-meaning Old Boys of the school to emulate the gesture of Nwakamma who has lifted his ex-classmate economically.
“I pray that God will continue to bless him and members of his family and also replenish his pocket,” he said.
The beneficiaries included Akunesi, Orji, Chidiebere Uzor, Nonye Emelle, Joseph Oluigbo, Jonathan Onyeji, Njoku, Ezechinyere Anuebunwa, Chidiebere Ezeocha and Iheanacho Asiegbu.
