Expecting more people of goodwill to join hands with Dr. Chioma Awuzie Foundation in ameliorating the sufferings of less privileged Nigerians

By Dr. Amobi P. Chiamogu

It is no longer in doubt that in today's Nigerian context, there are various situations of affliction, suffering and discomfort.

Causes that demand attention and need for immediate action have continued to multiply on a daily basis. At the same time, there is a rising level of uncertainties occasioned by spiraling insecurities, wanton killings, widespread unemployment, massive poverty and, excruciating economic hardship that are profoundly pushing people into socio-economic doldrums, frustration and anguish.

I watched with keen interest and rapt attention as Dr. Chioma Awuzie voluntarily dishes out her hard earned fortunes to the less privileged ones in the society for them to stand the test of time.

In that context, Dr. Chioma Awuzie Foundation (DCAF), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and Non-Profit Organization (NPO), operating in the South-Eastern and South-Southern parts of Nigeria, has had powerful impacts on the people. The Foundation has headquarters in Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State and a subdivision in Asaba, Delta State.

This beautiful bride known as Dr. Chioma Awuzie Foundation (DCAF) that has already saved so many lives, was founded by an Anambrarian entrepreneur and public servant, Dr Chioma Irene Awuzie, whose midas touch and commitment to relieving the needs of the underprivileged, indigent, ill, vulnerable and or helpless people define unparalleled philanthropy. She envisioned the Foundation as a means of positively changing the lives of people living in want, poverty, squalor, affliction and discomfort.

The Foundation is registered as an Incorporated Trustee with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in the year 2021. Its mission is to encourage and support an egalitarian society that works towards enhancing the standard of living for the underprivileged. It also aims at facilitating greater access to higher education, empowering women and investing in the youths to reduce poverty in Nigeria.

Dr. Chioma Awuzie Foundation (DCAF) has inspired hope and happiness for many. It has provided succour, rescued and regenerated many from affliction and discomfort. The Foundation has equally provided clothes and shelter for indigent widows and facilitated capacity training with start-up capitals for several beneficiaries.

It has recreated life for the vulnerable including indigent widows, children and persons in correctional centers through requisite skill acquisition programmes and provision of start-up (seed money) for entrepreneurship. The Foundation has facilitated wider access to higher education through provision of scholarships, and grants and aids to less privileged students in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. It is improving the standard of living for the underprivileged through poverty, women empowerment and youth investment.

In specific terms, the Foundation focuses on the following programmes:

*Acts of Charity*

Under this programme, the Foundation undertakes works of mercy by providing food for the hungry, clothing materials for the naked, shelter for the homeless and visiting the sick in hospitals to pay their treatment bills (for those who cannot afford their bills and overstaying in the hospitals), visiting the imprisoned, and generally attending to the needs of the underprivileged persons in our society.

The Foundation prioritizes attention to the needs of the vulnerable, especially children in orphanage homes, indigent widows, youths-in-need and those supposedly undergoing reformation and rehabilitation at Correctional Centers. So far, the Foundation has attended to the following:

1. Provided shelter for an indigent and homeless orphan.

2. Visited and provided food items to children at Mother of Divine Grace Orphanage Home, Asaba Delta State on 21 July, 2021

3. Visited and tended inmates of the Medium Security Correctional Center at Ogwashi-Uku Delta State on 20 July, 2022

4. Hospital visitations (the Foundation has tended patients, newly delivered mothers and babies) in 2023

*Women Empowerment and Youth Investment for Poverty Reduction*

Under this programme, the Foundation focuses on providing succour to the vulnerable persons in our society. It is especially concerned about the lives of indigent women, girl children and the youths who bear the brunt of poor governance, conflicts, unemployment and attendant insecurities. Consequently, the Foundation focuses on requisite capacity building, support and provision of start-up capital for women and youth entrepreneurship as means of bringing people out of poverty.
In line with this,the Foundation had:

1. Purchased and distributed 5 Cassava Grinders to some rural women in 2020

2. Procured and distributed 1 Shuttle Bus and 1 Carriage Vehicle to select unemployed youths in 2020 and 2022 respectively.

3. Provided start-up capitals (ranging from N200,000 - N800,000) for entrepreneurship to 20 indigent persons.

4. Sponsored 15 select underprivileged persons to their choice skill acquisition, craft and innovation programmes.

*Facilitating Greater Access to Higher Education*

This programme provides vents for the Foundation to join hands with relevant stakeholders to facilitate and sustain greater access to higher education for the youths. The Foundation has facilitated, supported and sustained underprivileged youths to attain higher education in Nigeria. The Foundation has:

1. Paid school and sundry fees for over 25 female students in various tertiary educational institutions.

2. Paid school and sundry fees for over 19 male students in various tertiary educational institutions.

As part of the programmes marking the 50th Birthday Anniversary of the founder, Dr Chioma Awuzie, the Foundation has rolled out the following programmes:

*Acts of Charity:* they will do some works of mercy for the needy and deserving people in the following locations:

1. Distribution of food items, foot wears, raincoats and clothing materials to students and the residents of Old Aguata at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State on 14 July, 2023

2. Undertake free medical outreach to Onitsha residents at SS John and Paul Parish, Iba-Pope Awada, on 15 July, 2023

3. Distribution of clothing materials to indigent widows and the underprivileged at SS John and Paul Parish, Iba-Pope Awada

4. Visitation to St. Martin's Community Children/Welfare Orphanage Home at Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State.

5. Distribution of food items and clothing materials to indigent widows at Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State on 16 July, 2023

*Women Empowerment and Youth Investment for Poverty Reduction*
1. Donation of refrigerators and electrical cooling appliances to indigent women for entrepreneurship.
2. Provision of sterilizing appliance to support a deserving barber.
3. Provision of digital camera and or laptop computer to upcoming photopreneur.

*Facilitating Greater Access to Higher Education:* The Foundation has selected 15 indigent students from various tertiary education institutions in Anambra State who will be awarded Scholarship on 14 July 2023 at the Federal Polytechnic Oko.

*Call for Donation*
Public spirited individuals, corporate bodies, development partners, local and International donor agencies are most humbly requested to support the Foundation by donating to the promotion of charity, better life, women and youth empowerment through this account number 8126389015 with First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

It is therefore pertinent for other people of goodwill who have the wherewithal to come out voluntarily and join hands with Dr. Chioma Awuzie in spreading this corporal work of mercy to all nooks and crannies, for sake of God and humanity.

You can reach Dr Chioma Awuzie Foundation at:

Website: https://www.drchiomaawuziefoundation.org/

E-mail: drchiomaawuziefoundation@gmail.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089188486206&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrChiomaAwuzieFoundation

WhatsApp: 08034742019

Dr. Amobi P. Chiamogu is a
Lecturer at the Department of Public Administration, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State Nigeria
08034306261