Awka the capital of Anambra state was home for several widows from the five southeastern states converged there to benefit from Arthur Eze’s 4J empowerment program.
At the occasion, it was really from the horse’s mouth as the women were describing their experiences in carrying the burden of child rearing alone.
There, one of them narrated her ordeal this way: “only a woman who paid through her nose to train her children from primary school to university level without the supports of a mate or any other sources can be able to describe how it feels to shoulder the of a family alone”. Nkechi, one of the widows that benefited from the 4J Empowerment program held in Awka, Anambra State.
The Ebonyi state born widow, confessed that it was a difficult ordeals since she lost her husband in 1995 and saddled with the heavy loads of raising five children all alone. Nkechi could not not contain her feelings when she was handed a big envelope that contains some amount of money in assistance for her children school and other matters.She praised Arthur Eze for setting up the program that has continued to wipe tears from the widows eyes.
Another beneficiary from Anambra State, commended Eze for his benevolent spirit especially in helping the less privileged.
She said that this is not the first time that she has been recieving gift and money from Arthur Eze. Hear her, “He has been paying my children school fees for a long time now. my prayers for him is that God will continue to protect and bless him.
“If other rich men in Anambra state and across South-east are organising similar empowerment program to alleviate poverty, people won’t be suffering. We are therefore calling on the other rich people in the society to adopt this style, she said.
She also cited a similar scheme that Jonathan Empowerment organized in Awka which benefited several widows from Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi,and Abia got highly empowered.
The items that were distributed to the women apart from grants were refrigerators, standing fans,bags of rice, stoves ,and other household items. So far more than 2000 widows has benefited from Athur Eze program and had continued to benefit.
Eze who is described as a generous man, apart from his 4J Empowerment scheme, started this many years ago to assist indigenous students to pursue their education in Nigeria and in many foreign countries of the world.
Perhaps, the widows’ emotional prayers inspired the donor and philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze to accuse politicians of selfishness and criminality saying that out of what they earn, many of them find it difficult to spare a little percentage of it for the benefit of the downtrodden and less-privileged members of the society for the sake of God.
First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan who spoke at the occasion thanked Prince Arthur Eze for his initiative, saying that “4J”, shares the same passion with her non-governmental organisation in the area of women empowerment, and support for the less-privileged.
She also thanked South-easterners for adopting her husband and herself as their son and daughter and pledged not to let them down.
But she reminded the widows that death is a necessary end one must accept with equanimity whenever it occurs according to the will of God, even as she agreed that no property can equate the loss of a husband by a woman because he is the pillar of her life.
According to her, “When you lose your husband, you lose your life. In bed, you are just with the pillows. Nobody shares your pains with you. Nobody initiates discussions on the way forward with you. It is a painful experience no one wishes his worst enemy.
“Yet, even as the widows suffer all these emotional bursts, some traditional practices against widows also diminish and inhibit them. I keep asking myself, of what use is this tradition that cannot show love to a widow or your neighbor,” she said amidst shouts of “Mama Peace”, the fond name which women call her generally. She also enjoined women to ensure peace in their homes.
Present at event were Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who pledged the state’s support for Jonathan in 2015, Senator Andy Uba, Chief Kodilichukwu Okelekwe, Chief Annie Okonkwo, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, Chief Victor Umeh, all aspirants for Anambra South and Central Senatorial Zones in the 2015 general election.
Present at event were Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano who pledged the state’s support for Jonathan in 2015, Senator Andy Uba, Chief Kodilichukwu Okelekwe, Chief Annie Okonkwo, Chief Sylvester Okonkwo, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, Mrs. Uche Ekwunife, Chief Victor Umeh, all aspirants for Anambra South and Central Senatorial Zones in the 2015 general election.
Senator Ben Obi, the Special Adviser to the president on Inter-Party Affairs and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha also attended the event.
For Eze, it was a dream come through. “I am happy that this thing is happening while I am still alive. It is Dame Jonathan that asked us to gather together all of you widows in the South-east who have been suffering since the defunct of Biafran Republic and civil war in Nigeria. She is concerned about your sufferings and has promised to assist you with empowerment items.
“She has also promised to build industries for you, where you will work and earn a living. I am doing this because our politicians do not care, they are criminals, and they are greedy. But President Jonathan is not like that, he is humane and listens to the cries of poor Nigerians and has been working hard to ameliorate their sufferings. With what our Mama Peace is helping us to do, your tears will be wiped away,” he said.
Eze has been a philanthropist for decades and hails from Ukpo village in Dunukofia Local Government area of Anambra State. His elder brother is the traditional ruler of the town. A chemical engineer by training, Eze is the Ozoigbondu of Igboland.
People hardly identify the billionaire oil magnet as a politician but his close ally said Arthur Eze has for over two decades, played an active role as a grand political power broker both Anambra State and in the entire South-east.
He is the owner of the defunct Triax Airline, which folded up early 2000. Currently, he is the major promoter of Orient Nigeria Limited, the first privately-owned refinery to be sited in Onitsha, Anambra State. Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, is the company’s chairman.
Eze is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Oranto Petroleum International Limited (AOPL). Some sources said Eze founded and incorporated the company around 1991 and 1993 respectively. Official records describe AOPI as a wholly Nigerian oil exploration and production company and an active operator of 14 oil blocks in the West
National Coordinator, Prince Emeka Eze, who commended the south-east widows, stakeholders and leaders in the South-east for the large turn out on his part, noted that 4J, an NGO founded by Prince Arthur Eze, a philanthropist, will continue to collaborate to assuage the responsibilities and burdens of widows and children in the country.
Quote: If other rich men in Anambra State and across South-east are organising similar empowerment program to alleviate poverty, people won’t be suffering. We are calling on other rich people in the region to support the poor.
Ejinwa Anthony says
amen
Ejinwa Anthony says
Those who know what widows are passing through are lending a helping hand. My mum is so I know what she passing through so may God bless those that remember the suffering of widows and are making their life a little easier
ubesie chukwuebuka chidiogo says
Thank God, God have finally remember this widow’s and their cries this day, is not easy to carry along a family needs only by one person (most especially a woman), I pray that other widows out there God will always remember you people…… AMEN