The Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation has presented Apostle Eugene Ogu, the General Overseer of Abundant Life Evangelical Mission and Dame Judith Amaechi, the wife of the state governor awards for service to disables and less-privilege awards.
The award was presented to them during the capacity building forum organized by the Rivers State ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, for persons with disability on Tuesday 10th April, 2012 at the state ministry of Justice, Port Harcourt.
It would be recalled that Apostle Eugene Ogu through his NGO “Arm of Hope World Outreach” has assisted the less-privileged and disables in several ways, including scholarships, conducive accommodation for the displaced, medical attention, rents for houses and shops and others, while Dame Judith Amaechi had used her NGO, Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) to assist the disables and the less-privileges in various ways.
In his speech the Rivers State commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Hon. Joe P. Poroma dsclosed that organizing the forum buttressed the fact that the present administration led by governor Amaechi has good intentions for the citizens including the less privileged.
He recalled several ways government had assisted persons with disability which includes provision of overseers and local scholarship and establishment of a taxi scheme and other aids among others.
The Hon. Commissioner who noted that the government has not done enough considering the number of disabilities in state especially those in the remote villages, assured that government would do more.
He said government could not do it alone and enjoined public-spirited individuals, groups and corporate organizations to play their parts in alleviating the problems of persons living with disability.
In his speech Apostle Eugene Ogu who chaired the occasion and one of the awardees, applauded the ministry for organizing the forum, noting that there was need to assist persons with disabilities and less privileged and urged the legislators to make laws that would accommodate the disables in the society.
Commenting on the Easter celebration, Apostle Ogu described Easter as a period when Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for mankind.
In her response at the ceremony, Dame Judith Amaechi expressed her willingness to support the disables through NGO and thanked the ministry for the award bestowed on her and her colleague, Apostle Eugne Ogu.
Mrs. Amaechi also commended Apostle Ogu for his support to the less privileged. ###
Emeka Jilly Ejiowhor
