From Maurice Okafor,Enugu
In line with it’s enshrined culture of hosting and parting gifts to people with special needs who are under going free training at the organization, the management of Bina Foundation, an NGO based at Thinkers Corner Enugu,at the weekend parted Christmas gifts to inmates of the foundation and their family members for the sake of charity and season of Christmas.
Though the foundation has consistently performed this annual ritual since 2010, but the 2019 end of year party was extra ordinary, celebrated with pomp and pageantry as “Home grown” Father XMAS was on ground to thrill little Children and add fun to the event.
The Bina Foundation medical team comprising of expatriates offered free medical tested and administered drugs freely to the audience who cares.The Bina Foundation music band comprising of both blind instrumentalists and vocalists rendered both high life and disco tunes.The Deaf also sang Christmas songs with sign language.
The couple behind Bina Foundation, Pharmacist Sir Chris and Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu in their usual passion for mankind and large heart also dashed away some wheel chairs and Clutches to some inmates with dilapidated and old ones.
The usual one bag of rice and an envelope containing an undisclosed amount of cash was given to each of the inmates numbering over five hundred by the President of para athletics federation of Nigeria,Hon Amobi Chikwendu, who is also one of the Director at Bina Foundation.
The President/Founder of Bina Foundation,Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu, earlier on in her speech recounted the imparts her NGO has made both locally,nationally and. Internationally in giving a sense of belonging to people living with disabilities.
She disclosed that with technical support from the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports, Bina Foundation has been able to raise both male and female national blind football teams known as “Star ,Eagles’ and ” Star Falcons'(female) both of whom are representing Nigeria in Africa and international blind football competitions. The Nigeria male national blind football team known as Star Eagles was groomed at Bina Blind football academy. The team came fourth in the African Football competition held in Enugu between November 22 and December 1,this year.
She stated,”We successfully conducted National Blind football trials for the formation of the national team, the Star Eagles of Nigeria. At the same time the female team, the Star Falcons of Nigeria was named.
“The Star Falcons of Nigeria joined other nations at Japan for the ‘International Blind Sports Association (IBSA)Women’s blind football Camp and games from 20th to 25th February 2019.’
” In April this year,we sponsored the African women blind football training camp and games 2019,involving Cameroon,Ghana,Ivory Coast and Nigeria,which opened the corridor in Africa for women participation in blind football,’
Lady Ifeoma Atuegwu expressed gratitude to her husband,Sir Pharmacist Chris Atuegwu, the chairman, Board of trustees of Bina Foundation, for providing most of the logistics that enhances all operations of the foundation.
Sir Chris Atuegwu, who is also the Managing Director of Michelle Laboratories, an indigenous drug manufacturing firm, urged every Nigerian rich men to devote some of their resources in measures to give people with disabilities a sense of belonging. He gave kudos to all members of staff of Bina Foundation,who are working with his wife to achieve her dream of training people with disabilities.
