The Sun chairman, Neya, receives Rotary Club award for charity

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

It could be quite out of place to question whose baton she is sprinting along with in the track of the philanthropy. The blue blood of philanthropy indeed runs in her blood.

Over the years, she has consistently continued to touch lives of people of different strata like a colossus, admirably far above her time.

Neya Uzor Kalu, chairman of The Sun stable and daughter of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the senator representing Abia North at the upper legislative chamber, is an entrepreneur, business executive and philanthropist who has carved a niche for herself.

Neya’s philanthropic gestures, have over the period, come under the spotlight of many organizations, which equally in one way or the other have bestowed on her deserving accolades.

Rotary Club of Umuahia Government House, Abia State followed in this trajectory when it, on September 7, gave quintessential and inspiring Neya a deserving award.

Speaking while presenting the award received on behalf of Neya by the human resources manager of The Sun, Jessica Oje-Humprey, the 7th president of the club, Love Ezema, eulogized the business colossus for her support for women welfare.

“Supporting women is crucial to Neya and you will often hear the phrase ‘sister’s keeper’. This burning passion drives her work with the Neya Kalu Foundation and the OUK Foundation, contributing to the implementation and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 1-6.

“Neya continues to champion course for the development of women and has been invited to speak on platforms like the African Women on Leadership conference where she spoke on ‘Women’s Networking and Support Systems.”

Going further to give reason Neya was given the award, the Rotary Club president proudly said: “In 2022, Neya was named one of the 25 most powerful women in journalism by the Women in Journalism Africa initiative in recognition of her work as the chairman of The Sun newspapers.”

Ezema further described Neya as a voracious reader and lover of African literature, particularly those written by Nigerian authors.

Receiving the award on behalf of Neya, Oje-Humprey said the awardee has done a lot not only in uplifting women in the society, but also humanity at large.

She said: “Apart from being a business executive and entrepreneur, Neya is passionate about solving social issues, especially as it relates not only to women, but also to humanity at large.”

Oje-Humprey said Neya, who apart from being the chairman of The Sun newspapers, Sun Heavens Hotels and Resort and CEO of Base coat, a chain of nail salons, believes in the development and empowerment of women as, according to her, they are major players in national and global development.

Oje-Humprey on behalf of the awardee, made a handsome cash donation to Rotary Club to assist their charity work.

Chief Paul Chikezie Mba, a former commissioner for lands in the state, presented the award’s plague to Oje-Humprey.

A former governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah was equally given award by the club.

Receiving the award on Ogah’s behalf, a veteran Journalist, Joshua Ogbonnaya, described Ogah as a man that has touched the lives of many positively. He told the cheering gathering that Ogah was going to take up one the projects the club has planned to embark this year.

Other awardees include Sen. Bala A. Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi; Sen. Austin Akobundu, Ben Kalu, deputy speaker, House of Representatives; former deputy governor of Abia State, Ude Oko Chukwu and Sen Mao Ohuabunwa.

Others are Dr. (Mrs) Ngozi Olejeme, Dr Chima Anyaso, Asiforo Okere, Abia PDP chairman; Mrs. Ngozi Ekeoma and Chief Okechukwu Ahiwe, Abia PDP governorship candidate in the last election.