TEACH a man to fish rather than giving him fish, this way; you would make him independent and self-reliant, it will also make the society a better place.
This is what President/Founder, HRH Appolus Chu Foundation, Chief Appolus Chu, who recently inaugurated his organisationis doing. He is stopping at nothing to engage the society particularly the youths to give them a self-reliant life.
According to him, establishing the foundation was necessitated by the pains the less privileged of the society go through on a daily basis.
Informed by this ugly situation, the thought of floating a foundation through which he can assist them find succour and relief so that they can live meaningful lives became necessary, he said.
Conceived in August 2011, the thought went through the process of maturity and having fully developed was inaugurated recently in Okori Town Square, Eleme, Rivers State.
Being a non-governmental, non-political, non-profit making and social welfare organisation poised to reposition the less privileged to function to full capacity, the Foundation will also help beneficiaries to contribute meaningfully to the development of the society.
Since its establishment, the foundation has impacted positively on some lives, which include award of scholarship to nine Eleme undergraduates in specialised area of study for two years valued at the sum of N7.2 million. The scheme is intended to run throughout the years of study.
The selection process, Chu was quick to explain, was done with utmost sincerity and carefulness, which saw two law students and seven engineering students emerging.
The foundation also intends to award scholarships to Law and Medical students if they emerge at the end of the day.
During its formal inauguration, the foundation empowered 50 petty-traders, at Akpa-oeh Market, Ogale as well as the issuance of 100 brand new laptops to 100 graduates of the Foundation’s free computer literacy programme.
A landed property with total area of 1,453.88 square metres worth N22.5 million was presented to the community to use as the Okori Town Square as well as a Mobile Clinic/Health Delivery Van to assist some patients that require immediate attention within Eleme land.
Presenting the items to the beneficiaries, Chu’s advice was that since they have been given a net to fish, they should all put their nets to fish and never keep their fortune to depend on others, adding, “my candid advice to everyone is to be self-reliance, which is the best way to grow in life.
“You all have been given a net to fish, note that not all achievement in life needs a sacrifice. I therefore encourage you all to put your net of today to fish and never keep your fortune to depend on others.”
Chu said the opportunity given to them would give birth to bigger ones if managed properly.
Recalling what informed his decision to establish a foundation, he said, “ when I considered how nine communities that constitute Okori community come every year to appreciate and celebrate me as their paramount ruler during the festival time and my birthdays, I realised that my people are actually taking cognisance of my support and the developments I have brought into the community. Then the thought to formalise this foundation came to my mind.”
Since the foundation was inaugurated, the entire Eleme has not been the same again and a few indigenes have had one or two good things to say about the Foundation and its founder.
For Princely Emeka Chujor, a lawyer, the foundation has three major components: security, health and education, noting that the patrol van donated to the Police is to enhance security in the area, while the ambulance is to cater for the medical needs of the people.
“Chu has provided an ambulance, not only that but it is fully equipped with drugs and facilities that can deal with any emergency. As a matter of fact, it is first of its kind within this area.”
Chujor said further that with another foundation of such in place in Eleme it will go a long way in touching the lives of Eleme people, adding however that, “there are other people whom God has blessed in Eleme and who have the capacity to do what Chu was doing but are not forthcoming.”
Another indigene of Eleme, Chief Baba Osaro Awala, described Chu as a gifted child that has decided to use his blessing to bless others. “That is what God requires from us because when he blesses you, in return He expects you to bless others and that is what Chu is doing,” he noted.
“Chu from childhood has been kind-hearted humble, very industrious and diligent. He is a very honest man who renders services to different people free of charge,” said Emere Festus Ngochindo.
He noted that the assistance offered by the Foundations does not stem from a show of extreme wealth by the benefactor.
“The existence of poverty is good enough for the activities of the Foundation. In its most extreme form, poverty is the lack of basic human needs … poverty leads to terrible suffering and eventually death. Crime and violence, which are among effects of poverty, may be transmitted to the rich. We do ourselves a favour, therefore, if we assist the poor,” Ngochindo said.
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