Christmas is the commemoration of Jesus Christ’s birth. And Jesus Christ, whose birth is called the immaculate conception, was born more than two thousand years ago. During His earthly ministry, which lasted for three years, he performed such miracles as healing the sick, raising people from the dead, feeding five thousand people with five loaves of bread and two fish(es), walking on the sea, calming a tempestuous sea, and others.
A man who performed such miracles as He did should be venerated, celebrated, and remembered, even post-humously. So christians and non- christians living in many different countries of the world have been celebrating Christmas, which is the birthday of Jesus Christ, for many centuries. And Christmas has become the most important and popular religious festival in our today’s world.
Before now, that is, in the time past, people mark the birthday of Jesus Christ by reflecting on His teachings. His teachings, which are revolutionary in nature, serve as our guide in our daily interactions with other people. And the doctrinal base of His teachings is love.
And it is said that he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law. A man who is actuated by the feelings of love will not contemplate killing his brother, not to talk about his carrying out the despicable deed. And a man who is imbued with the virtue of love will not covet his neighbour’s properties.
But sadly, over the years, people who profess the Christian faith have become the violators of Jesus Christ’s teachings and commands. They do ignore His commands and precepts. As a result, the celebration of Christmas has assumed a mercantilist and pagan hue. The Christmas period is no longer a time for us to meditate on God’s words. Neither is it a time when the rich people in our society will remember the dirt poor, who scavenge in refuse bins for leftovers.
But kind-hearted people who abide by the ethos of Christianity exist among us till now. They are lofty-minded people, who are driven by high ideals. Engr. Eric Nnamdi Anyamene, who is a philanthropist and humanitarian, belongs to the fast fading class of the political elite and bourgeoise, who are lifting the poor from the dungeon of poverty. Engr. Anyamene’s philanthropic deeds have helped countless people to navigate past their problems and escape the sharp bite of poverty.
An IT Engineering specialist and political aide to Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state, Engr. Eric Anyamene is the founder of Eric Nnamdi Anyamene Foundation (ENAF). The foundation is committed to sponsoring the tertiary education of brilliant students, who come from poor homes. ENAF has, also, been offering financial empowerment to people, who possess vocational skills in order for them to set up their own businesses. It has been donating food items to the economically emasculated people, who live on the margins of society.
More so, during the 2025 Christmas period, Engr. Eric Nnamdi Anyamene, who is the founder of ENAF, decided to celebrate the Christmas festival in accordance with the teachings and precepts of Jesus Christ, who is our saviour and redeemer. He chose to remember the dregs, and the flotsam and jetsam of our society, who are economically deprived and handicapped.
His organization, the Eric Nnamdi Anyamene Foundation (ENAF) sought out under-priviliged people in towns in Idemili North and South LGAs. With the help of town unions’ president generals, ENAF assembled under-priviliged people in towns in Idemili North and South LGAs for the distribution of bags of rice to them.
Between December 17 and December 22, 2025, trucks laden with bags of rice traversed the towns in Idemili North and South LGAs, distributing bags of rice to under-priviliged.The towns whose members benefited from Engr. Eric Anyamene’s acts of benevolence and largesse were: Ogidi, Nkpor, Abatete, Eziowelle, Abacha, Alor, Nnokwa, Nnobi, Awka-Etiti, Umuoji, Uke, Ideani, Oraukwu, Oba, Akwa-ukwu, Ojoto, and Obosi.
Engr. Eric Nnamdi Anyamene’s penchant for offering help to people is traceable to the good parental upbringing he received from his parents. They inculcated in him the virtues of love, honesty, hard work, holiness, and faithfulness. His possession of admirable human character traits has made him become disposed to helping other people, who are in dire circumstances.
Born to Engr.(Sir) Martins and Juliana Anyamene in Port-harcourt, Engr. Eric Anyamene received his tertiary education in Nigeria and in foreign countries. An alumnus of University of Port-harcourt, he’s an IT Engineer and political aide to Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state. And he is a technocrat, who is contributing his quota for the remaking of Nigeria.
Besides his interest in partisan politics, Engr. Anyamene is defined by his humane disposition as well as kind-heartedness, which manifests in his execution of programmes to lift people out of excruciating poverty and bring succor to the broken-hearted. His doings are a portraiture of a man, who is imbued with the virtue of love.
Engr. Eric Nnamdi Anyamene’s celebration of Christmas, which is harmonious with the teaching of Jesus Christ, has provided a good example to other rich people, who engage in profligate and showy acts. He has stated it, emphatically, that Christmas period is the time for well-heeled people to help the needy and vulnerable people in our society.
Yours faithfully,
Chiedu Uche Okoye
Uruowulu-Obosi
Anambra state
08062220654
Okoye is a published poet.
