O
bu onye si n’igbo enwenyi mmadu?
What do we really mean when we say one is a Philanthropist?
Charles Odunukwe, Foundation and Chairman Chardon Foundation and the Vice President-General Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Worldwide.
These outlined questions form the basis of the
following article that puts you on the know of a less perceived
strong smell of a genius who has crossed and dotted his Ts and Is respectively
in the events of human development and economic empowerment.
One can attest to the fact that one of the
factors that propagate a person with goodwill is Benevolence. Which in
terms of human relation, charitable kindness, altruistic gifts, little
wonder the saying that it does not matter how long one lives on earth rather
what matters is the achievement he or she had instituted before going the way
of all flesh and mortals.
In this context, one person that keeps striking my
thoughts is the man whose name will continue to ring a resounding bell in ears within and outside the Nation, Nigeria. This is an outstanding gentleman who records
positive utterances in virtually all areas of human endeavors as he counts it
as passion to always contribute immensely in development and well being of the
people.
He had sponsored several projects across the
Southeast ranging from electrification of towns and communities, road
constructions, youth empowerment among others.
Are
we actually cognizant of the fact that charity they say begins at home?
Hails from Ibenabor clan of Oraukwu Community in Idemili
North local government area of Anambra state, Charles Odunukwe
is presently the Vice President-General of the Apex Igbo Socio-cultural
Group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Worldwide, a designation that crowns his original position as the
President of Aka Ikenga, the think tank arm of the Group.
He is also the Deputy President General of Igbo in Lagos.
Philanthropically, the story of Electrification
project in Oraukwu will remain incomplete if the name, Charles Odunukwe
is not brought to limelight. In 1989, Odunukwe changed the topic and
tempo of discussion of the project as he financially motivated the then Oraukwu
Electrification Committee with the whooping Sum of fifty thousand naira (#50,
000, of course the weight of that sum in the year in quote remains encouraging) just to
kick start the fund raising activities, whose committee he chaired.
This young and vibrant Entrepreneur can best be
described as an embodiment of human services as he has watered mouths and oiled
hands in towns and communities in the southeast by investing in human
capital development with well over hundreds of youths in his pay roll.
He is a Church Planter, had written his name in gold after he single handedly built Saint Albert the Great, Catholic Parish,
Ibenabor in Oraukwu. His generosity in things of God is believed to have lured
him into Pilgrimage sponsorship on which he had sponsored tens of participants to 2014, 2015, 2016 and even the awaiting 2017 journey to the Holy land, Jerusalem.
In the same vein, the construction of about
2.5kilometer Asphalted road with a two side concrete drainage, beautified with about
one hundred and fifty (150) poles of street light was started and completed by
him.
National
Service
Charles Odunukwe is a Former Member of Federal
Government Delegations on Economic mission to Malaysia, Indonesia and Venezuela.
Former Member Board of the National Agency for Food
and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC; where he was pivotally
instrumental to policies that repositioned the Health Sector.
Former B.O.T Chairman of Federation of Tourism
Association of Nigeria (FTAN) to mention but very few of his numerous services
to this great country, Nigeria.
How
better can we describe a generous individual?
CHARDON
FOUNDATION
Odunukwe is the Founder and Chairman of Chardon
Foundation.
This middle aged individual while fielding
questions from journalists in Lagos, stated that based on his love for humanity
and pity for the less privileged, he deemed it fit to establish a foundation
(Chardon Foundation) through which five to Ten thousand (10,000), indigent
people had been empowered with opportunities to establish some small scale
businesses, jobs to unemployed e.t.c.
The Foundation also enhances the medical field as
it from time to time supports hospitals with various Health facilities. Chardon
Foundation had given out over two hundred motor cycles and Tricycles.
Surprisingly, according to this Sun Newspaper 2014
Hospitality Man of the Year, supporting humanity through the Foundation is
never for any political or selfish reasons but for the exaltation of God on earth. The beneficiaries most of whom are non-igbo can confirm that these
gifts are not under any business interest whatsoever.
By his several giant strides in providing hope to
the hopeless, Charles has paid and is still paying his dues thereby ensuring he meets
up with the biblical injunctions that state the following.
-Do
not neglect to do well and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are
pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:16
-For anger gives a foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. Ephesians 4:27-28
-Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. Proverbs 22:9
By the above, it is needless for one to wonder,
argue or inquire to know the source of his bountiful blessing for
it is boldly written in the stars that God never forsake a cheerful giver. Chardon as he is tenderly called is widely known as a generous
fellow and as such had been abundantly clothed with glory by the Almighty.
Charles Odunukwe sitting along side a friend and Business Pal, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezeanowai (Ability), during the Vigil Mass in honour of Governor Obiano's Mother, Late Mrs. Christiana Obiano at Saint Joseph's Catholic Parish, Aguleri.
The President of Aka Ikenga consoles the Obiano family on the demise of their mother while encouraging them to take solace in the fact that their mother lived a fulfilled life.
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