A philanthropist, Chief John Ezeanidike has, through his foundation the Ezeani Dike Education Foundation (EDF) and Ezeani Dike Business Foundation, empowered indigent youths in Akwaeze, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra State, with tricycles, and also paid school fees of students in his community.
EDF started as a non-governmental and non-profit organisation in 2012, with the goal of building sustainable human development geared towards the transformation of the community.
During the ceremony, twenty tricycles were distributed to twenty persons in the community bringing to about one hundred, the number of tricycles distributed through Ezeani Dike Business Foundation since its creation in the past two years.
It is equally aimed at developing programmes and strategies for empowering the less privileged and the unskilled to become productive and responsible citizens of the community, encouraging and popularising voluntary work as well as restoring hope for a better future.
Mitigate hardship
The Chairman of Ezeani Dike Business Foundation, Chief Ossy Udemba said the distribution of the tricycles to Akwaeze youths is to mitigate hardship and unemployment among the youths in the community and to help the beneficiaries become useful to themselves and the community.
A former Special Assistant to former Governor Willie Obiano on Youth Empowerment, Mr. Somto Anyaeche, said that the foundation has greatly helped many Akwaeze youths to succeed in their various endeavors and commended the founder for his kind gesture and revolutionary activities in his community while urging the beneficiaries never to engage in social vices that will bring them down.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to VON said the foundation has given them wings to fly and promised that they would not disappoint the foundation.
The event held at Akwaeze Civic center, Anambra State, attracted the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Christopher Okpala, cabinet members, Age grades in the community and sons and daughters of the community among others.
The event was also used to welcome two eminent sons of the community, Dr. Afam Obidike who is the Anambra state Commissioner for Health and the Deputy Director General, of Nigeria Law School, Barrister Chukwunoso Muozoba.
The handover of the tricycles, masquerade displays, among others were the high points of the event.
Olusola Akintonde
