15 Yr Old Nigerian Donates 10,000 Pairs Of Shoes To Abuja And Anambra

Teenager donates 10,000 pairs of shoes to charity
From Funso Muraina in Abuja, 07.30.2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Fct

A15-year-old Nigerian student in Philadelphia, USA, Miss Chierika Ukogu, yesterday donated 10,000 pairs of shoes to the needy in Abuja and Ukpor, in Anambra State.


 
About 7,000 of the shoes were sent to the motherless homes in and around the Federal Capital Territory,  while the remaining 3,000 would be distributed to the indigents in Ukpor and its environ.

Briefing the press in Abuja on how she came about the project, Ukogu said  she conceived the idea to help the needy when she visited her home town, Ukpor, Nnewi South of Anambra State, five years ago.

“About five years ago, I travelled to Nigeria and I went to Ukpor, my home town. I noticed a lot of children walking around with no shoes in this modern day. I know that if you walk about with no shoes, you are more prone to parasites, bacteria, diseases and wounds.

I was touched and made up my mind to help. The opportunity came last year when I was invited to a business camp in the USA where I wrote several articles on the plights of  Nigerian indigent children and my experience when I travelled to Ukpor," she explained.

Ukogu, a student of Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Philadelphia, said her articles and proposal at the camp attracted publications in several USA based journals.

``After the publications, I was able to collect over 10,000 flip flops (shoes) from donors through my school and my father volunteered a section of his garage where they were stored.

``The donations have been coming in their thousands because of the willingness of the people to help me in my plight,'' she said.

To make the project formal and to facilitate the shipment of the shoes to Nigeria, Ukogu said that she formed a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) duly registered in the USA, known as Flip Flops for Africa (FFFA).

``The first batch of the 10,000 shoes was shipped in to the country just a week ago, with the financial assistance of my parents, Mr and Mrs Joe Ukogu,'' she said.

On her challenges, Ukogu said that shipping the consignment to Nigeria and within Nigeria``was a real hazzle'' particularly getting people to understand the objective of the shoes.

The mother, Mrs Frances, said it was difficult transporting the shoes from Lagos to Abuja.

``The American side has been taking care of, the major problem is here in Nigeria because, yesterday, when I was to transport the consignment from Lagos to Abuja it was a big problem.

``I had to pay extra money because the security agents and the bus drivers were telling me the goods were contrabands even when I tried to explain to them that they were for donation for charity,'' she said.

The teenager called on the Nigeria government and other charity organisations to collaborate and support her for effective shipping and distribution of the shoes to the needy in Nigeria.

She also said that she was hoping to extend the gesture beyond Nigeria and to all African countries who are in need of the help.

``My goal is to collect and distribute over one million shoes in a year.This is achievable because the shoes keep on coming in by donors.

``Besides, I am making plans to partner with multinational shoe manufacturers in the developed countries for support,'' she said.

A member of the House of Representatives from Ukogu's constituency, Hon. Cyril Maduabun (PDP Anambra), who was at the occasion commended the efforts of the teenager.

Maduabun, the House Chairman, Public Petitions Committee said, ``It is a worthy initiative from a young girl like her and we will encourage and support her to continue.

``The House has just set up a Committee on NGO and things like this, we will do everything we can to assist her''.


http://odili.net/news/source/2008/jul/30/203.html

I can see 250 ways of making money through this route and still do the charity work. I need her number.

Very good. These are the kind of things I like. I wish everyone would try something like this and trust me, things will be beta. I would really love to meet this girl because the 2 of us have the same mission. I will post my plans soon. Job well done!!

i am guessing cheap payless shoes??? abi na used shoes from family and friends?

Nigerians and their big mouth. Does it matter? The kids that received the shoes had none whether it's payless or used. How many kids have you sent books, pencils, cheap shoes etc?

OBJ has been put to shame

Ya'adua has been disgraced!!!

@naija_diva, If you can't start urs, u can contribute to hers/mine

Thats really great, well done!

I wish those who are doing things and willing to do things to help would come together, even if its just for one project. What a finger can achieve can't be compared to what can be aciheved when those fingers come together to form a hand/fist.

Please provide details of your ngo please, I would like to see what I can contribute.

Also does anyone have the details of the 15 year old girl who sent the shoes? I would also like to contact her.

10000 shoes!!! where I'm get d moni

whats the point of shoes if people don't have FOOD to eat.

And what's the point of house if people don't have food to eat
Whats the point of clothes if people don't have food to eat etc.

Mr or Mrs. Obvious!! make use of your brain

A little girl of 15 made a donation of a staggering 10,000 shoes and you are asking her food for the people. Dumb dumb dumb!!!

I am in contact with the 15 years old, we r putting heads together.

@londoner, My NGO will be finally having the distribution of these school supplies (school bags, pens, pencils etc) on the 15th of dec. in Lagos. So far, 3 Nigerian Newspapers will cover it for us. We will all be there to distribute it to the 350 students in the school from primary 1-6. So we wont be sending it to the school authority to do the job because we know it wont get to the students. The name of the NGO is "BRINGING EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO MANY", BEAM INC. You can visit our website at
www.beaminc.org

please am a nigerian ooo, and i don't have 10, 0000 shoes so can any donation be made 2 me, ?

troe,
y don`t u do something instead of talking. Basket mouth.