Oil magnate, Prince Arthur Eze, gifts N100m to the executive of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide to support its programmes.
Prince Arthur visited Ohanaeze President, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu at his Abuja home to deliver the cheque for the amount.
Ohanaeze spokesperson, Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, confirmed the donation in a statement.
The organisation can now “heave a sigh of relief” from running its operations on a shoestring budget.
Prince Arthur Eze, he said, expressed sadness that the organisation was scrounging for funds to run its affairs.
The philanthropist, who owns Atlas Oranto Petroleum, deplored the idea of Chief Iwuanyanwu resorting to personally funding Ohanaeze activities.
He praised the new leadership’s agenda to deploy Igbo natural endowments and creative potentials to transform the Igbo space in Nigeria.
Prince Arthur equally applauded the vision to “lift Ohanaeze …to a glorious and enviable pedestal where it can command the followership and loyalty of all Igbo.”
He therefore assured that he will continue to support the Iwuanyanwu-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo to achieve the goal.
Dr. Ogbonnia, the Ohanaeze spokesperson, then waxed eloquent. He described the philanthropist as “a stalwart crusader of human empowerment, the embodiment of charity and philanthropy, the hope of the hopeless, the oppressed and father of the fatherless, and one of the most relentless cheerful giver in Nigeria.
“The Arthur Eze trajectory is an inspiring testament to the biblical injunctions of charity; and an admonition to the uninitiated scarcity thinkers that limit their horizon to self-satisfaction.
“In other words, kindness is like a treasure stored in heaven; it not only multiplies in quantum, it also resists the rust and tarnish of even the least charitable amongst humans.”
Dr. Ogbonnia disclosed that there is now a renewed spirit of support of Ndi-Igbo for the association.
He listed recent gifts of a set of seats for the Secretariat, logistics support for official trips, and enthisiastic hosting of the visiting leadership.
He mentioned consistent support of former Governor Rochas Okorocha and others all of whom “we will soon unveil.”
“Ohanaeze cannot withhold an immense gratitude to the Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, for his relentless supports to the organization.
“Iwuanyanwu recalled that while Uzodimma was in the Senate, he was the only Igbo senator amongst his colleagues that looked the way of Ohanaeze.
“The Ohanaeze has tried to cope with a peculiar paradox that owes quality service to the entire Igbo, while only a few considers it a duty to support the organisation,” Ogbonnia added.
Arthur Eze gifts Ohanaeze N100m for its operations
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