By Enaibo Asiayei
History was made at Okerenkoko community, hometown of the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr Kingsley Otuaro, on Tuesday, March 10, as the Ernest Bebenimibo Foundation, a non-profit and non-political organisation based in the Niger Delta, was formally launched.
It was at the Okerenkoko Town Hall where prominent Ijaw men and women from all walks of life assembled by 9am,
to give respite to over 300 women and vulnerable children, through the Ernest Bebenimibo Foundation.
Aged women were supported with clothing materials and children with access to qualitative education, nutrition, as well as social and economic welfare.
Speaking during the luncheon, Chairman/Founder of the Foundation, Mr. Ernest Bebenimibo, revealed that the initiative was committed to giving aged-women, orphans and vulnerable children a level playing field in life.
According to him, “What we are doing here (officially) today was born out of passion, inspired by the Holy Ghost and instructed by God Almighty, the creator of man kind.
“This outreach today here is carried out by a body called EBF, which is an acronym for ERNEST BEBENIMIBO FOUNDATION, a Non-Partisan, Non-Governmental, not-for-profit-making, Pan-African, Niger Delta based organisation.
“We are giving these gifts today not because you are poor or less privileged but to prove the love of God to you and charge you to always be hopeful in life and have faith in God, because He can use anybody, just as he’s using us today to be a blessing to you.
“I am your son. I was born and brought up in this community. I know how poverty, lack of adequate resources and scarcity of means deal with man.
“This is why God sent me as your messanger of hope through this foundation to put smile on your faces with these few items.
The Founder also highlighted some of his visions and areas of focus in doing his humanitarian services across the globe. Ernest stated the vision of his foundation as follows:
To return 1,000 out of school kids back to school in Niger Delta. To place 10,000 widows and widowers on welfare support of monthly stipend in Niger Delta. To build 20 old people homes to care for very old ones in Niger Delta. To refurbish school with 5,000 desks and chairs in Niger Delta. To distribute 10,000 educational aid items every term in select schools in Niger Delta.
To partner with health institutions and provide medical outreach to at least 10,000 aged ones in Niger Delta.
In his own speech, former chairman of Warri South West Local Government Area, Hon. George Ekpemupolo, represented by Barr. Christian Ovie, said, “An idea which started from the mind of a man has actually come to reality; like as it is commonly said, the journey of thousand miles begins with a step.
“It is a laudable initiative that we all have come together. I, representing the Chairman of this occasion, I always move in the direction of success and I know this foundation has come to stay, and it will succeed and grow beyond its bounds, and am very happy this is taking off in a rural community and spreading all over the world for the benefit of humanity.”
Dignitaries who graced the occasion and pledged their support included Chief Azaiye Piniki, CEO, Pinaza Records; Engr. Michael Tonlagha; Hon. Simeon Bebenimibo, SA to Governor of Delta State; among others.
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