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From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
August 15 every year is celebrated as the Assumption Day by the Catholics the world over to mark the day Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus, ascended to heaven and that coincidentally was the day a philanthropist, Chief Izuchukwu Onwugbenu popularly known as Louis Carter was born in the year 1953 in Nnewi, Anambra State.
He was born precisely to the family of Augustine and Cecilia Onwugbenu of Ndiojukwu village, Uruagu, Nnewi.
Chief Onwugbenu, generally and fondly called Okpata Ozuaora Nnewi because of his immeasurable philanthropic disposition clocks 70 this year which he liberally celebrated, though in abstentia, with the entire Block Rosary children in Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, as well as friends and well wishers.
One-sentence description is not enough to best explain what Louis Carter stands for but suffice it to say that he is inspirational, diligent, humble, determined, compassionate, caring and above all, God-fearing.
Talking about the celebrant, the Diocesan Chaplain of the Block Rosary Crusade Council of Nigeria, Very Rev Highgenus Aghaulo who spoke to journalists at St John’s Egbo described Chief Onwugbenu as one man, though very rich, who had always displayed simplicity at heart which Fr Aghaulo noted remained the attitude God desired from any man.
“No wonder he is very close to children. He did not choose to just invite politicians and high-sounding names in society, his main focus was the children. He rather called children and people who are child-like at heart are those who are close to God.
“He left out those big names in society to celebrate for and with the Block Rosary children. And when you are celebrating with this set of people, you are not expecting anything from them except prayers. These are not politicians who by tomorrow you will expect contracts from them. The children are invited to eat, drink and pray for their benefactor. He should be emulated in this child-like spirit. We must learn to invest in these young ones, we must learn to devote time for them.
“If you make them happy, when they grow up, instead of them being antagonistic to society, they will be friendly. Boko Haram and other bandits must have in childhood suffered one molestation or the other, and they are venting their anger against society by what they are doing.
“But if you show love to these kids, they will reciprocate the same when they grow up,” the priest said
More than one million children, according to the Chaplain, were at the celebration drawn from ten deaneries in the Nnewi Catholic Diocese all for Louis Carter. Their prayer for him was for God to continue to bless him with good health, long life and prosperity.
Fr Aghaulo noted that Chief Onwugbenu had done a lot for the members of the Block Rosary and had continued to do more.
“Just imagine, he is not in the country but things are happening. There are plenty of food to eat, as well as drinks and we have competitions. The children are going home with a lot of mouth-watering prizes including cash prizes, ” he said.
In an address read by Chief P. E. Nwosu on behalf of the celebrant who was unavoidably absent, Onwugbenu who is the founder of Louis Carter Foundation said at a young age he was reciting the rosary many times daily which he said helped him a lot in life.
He noted that the focus and discipline inculcated in him as a mass server, serving under Irish missionaries helped him to form his core value in life. He said that had contributed to what he is today.
“Yearly, I like to celebrate my birthday with the Block Rosary children and the less privileged in our society. I have to inculcate the spirit of generosity in them and make them know they can replicate this gesture when they grow up and can even surpass what I’m doing today.
“I believe that anyone who follows this path will not miss his or her direction in life. I will continue to give strong support and encouragement to the Diocesan Block Rosary groups to enable them reach out to more people and save more souls.
“I have been briefed of the current challenges facing the group and why fundraising was included in the programme of events today. I have written off every expense incurred by organizing the event today. The cost of refurbishing the group’s bus has been sent to me which was put at N2,101,900.00. I’m yet to receive the cost of renovating the structure at 100 Foot Road to stop sinking.
“However, I will make available the sum of N5 million for the execution of these two projects this year, ” he said in the address.
Chief Onwugbenu assured his preparedness to remove the burden from them. He suspended the item on fundraising in the programme of events and declared that invitees should enjoy themselves and go not to be bothered.
The event was heavily attended by community leaders in Nnewi including, Obi Afam Obi, the Obi of Uruagu, business gurus, industrialists, some politicians, many Catholic priests, friends and well wishers.
