Nkechinyere Ewa-okpara
The seventeen communities that make up Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi state on December 28, 2024 came together to thank God for his blessings for the year.
The annual thanksgiving service which started years ago was put together by the Ishiagu Community Development Union, ICDU and funded by Dr. Gideon Chidiebere Osi the Group President/Managing Director Gosima Group who used the medium to launch another hundred million naira scholarship scheme for indigent students within and outside Ishiagu.
The Gosima Group also commissioned the 2km road it attracted to Amata community in the area, and distributed 60 deep freezers with disbursed N50,000 each to women doing food and beverage businesses to encourage them and enhance food preservation in the community for the healthy living of the people.
The group also shared bags of rice, food condiments, wrappers and cash to over 1000 elderly women and indigent widows.
The Former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, urged leaders in the country to pay closer attention in human development.
He noted that human capital development will touch many lives and reduce poverty in the country.
“There is a need for adequate attention to human capital development. When you empower humans, you are building tomorrow.
“In this particular empowerment we are witnessing today, it will have serious positive effect in our community because these children that are being empowered today through this N100million scholarship , will tomorrow empower others.
“Ishiagu people, I want you people to know that it is in this place we are doing this program today that I was received by you people.
“I didn’t know what to say but God inspired me to say that it’s day break in Ishiagu and that was the only thing I said and handed over the microphone and it’s actually a day break in Ishiagu.
“The only thing I want to add today in that my remark is that it’s a new beginning, we have not seen anything yet in our community. We are going to see greater things.
“I want to thank Dr. Gideon immensely, and I want to say that if two, three persons in this community are doing like him, everywhere will be empowerment.
GIDEON Osi the chief sponsor of the thanksgiving in his remarks said he became a university graduate through a scholarship given to him by Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim when he was Senate President, which has made him to continue to give scholarship to indigent students to encourage education.
“We will continue to do our best, we will continue to build infrastructure, we will continue to invest in human capital development as our own way of supporting the government of the day because government cannot do everything.
“We are prepared to continue to do our best to support every indigent person in this community in any way that God has put it in our heart.
“Our interest is in education, and the simple reason is because I am a product of several scholarships.
“Those who knew my background knows that I wouldn’t have been a university graduate today if not for scholarships.
“From primary school through to secondary I enjoyed scholarship and at the university level, I was given scholarship by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim when he was Senate President. What you are seeing today, is the result of the seed that was planted many years ago by so many people.
“So, when you are investing in people, you are investing in the future of the community and when you invest in your community, then you are investing for our collective good”, he stated
Archt Moses Ajah who is the current ICDU President, Barr Orji Uchenna Orji former commissioner for information in the state, Hon. Nkemkama kama House of representative member representing OHANIVO federal consititicy in their remarks thanked God Almighty for his love and unmerited favours to Ishiagu sons and daughters both home and abroad.