By Stella Odueme
Pix: L-R. Sonnie, Joshua, Maria, Benedict and Isa Ado.
It was sign of fulfilment and accomplishment as a Civil Society Organisation (CSO), Esther Thefid Foundation (FTF) honoured some outstanding individuals who have contributed positively to societal and nation building.
They include; Sonnie Nwosu, President Olivebranchyouthfoundation; Mrs. Maria Ifeoma Emmanuel, Executive Director. Beracah Economic Empowerment and
Chief Isa Dafor, CEO. Jinabis Resort.
Others were; Benedict Samuel, Executive Director. Global Atlantic Empowerment Initiative; Prince Joshua Ogbonna Jekwu, Etymologist, Author as well as Ogechi Obidiegwu, Executive Director, Blaze 69 Lounge.
They were presented
with ETF/Prowess/IAMPS Great Achiever Award of the year 2023.
The presentation took place at the weekend in Abuja.
Reacting to the award, the founder of Olivebranchyouthfoundation, Nwosu expressed gratitude to the organiser, saying
it was an application for more work.
” I feel so happy. Is my day, I thank the organiser and it is a call to do more, I will continue to do what I know how to do best. I love to help people, many people need help, everybody is my brother. Everybody’s problem is mine. I just love to help others.
He said his NGO focuses on the emancipation of the less privileged and showing love to the unloved through unsolicited gestures in aid to humanity.
“As a philanthropist, I will keep helping those that need help, I continue to locate them and help them,” he assumed.
He enjoined Nigerians to be patriotic in order for the country to take it’s rightful place in the comity of nations and betterment of the citizenry.
On her part, Mrs. Emmanuel thanked the organiser for the award promising to continue to impact the lives of the down trodden, especially widows.
“To whom much is given much is expected. This shows that every work we do is being appreciated. This is an encouragement to even do more,” she stated.
Mr. Jekwu noted that the recognition meant so much for him.
“This is an encouragement and it means so much for me. When you are doing something and people somewhere notice it and awarded you, it means that you have to do better next time,” he said.
Other awardees; Chief Dafor, Mr. Samuel and Mrs Obidiegwu expressed appreciation to the organiser even as they pledged to continue to support the less-privileged in the society.
The Founder of Esther Thefid Foundation, Mrs. Esther said the gesture was to encourage entrepreneurs and those who are impacting the society positively to continue to do more, especially in the challenging Nigeria business environment.
“Any entrepreneur who have stayed in business for five to ten years ought to be applauded. The challenge is not to formulate policy but in driving the policy to achieve maximuim benefit for the people. Nigeria is the most difficult terrain to do business because majority of the people are coming to take what you have.
She said that the vision of her foundation is to have a Nigeria with healthy, literate and economically empowered citizens.
“I am a strong believer in Nigeria, we will get it right. We cannot wait for government to do everything, everyone has to contribute. The government needs to prioritize, if where the money is going to is not amounting to benefit the people or lift their lives out of this despair, they need to have a rethink of where the money should go that will lift people of the economic stress and burden. People are dying, malnutrition is stepping in and families are not feeding well.” she stated.
