Rivers State Government through its Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation gave award of honours to Apostle Eugene Ogu and the wife of the Executive Government of Rivers state, Dame Judith Amaechi for their gestures and generous gifts to the less privileged and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the society.
The honour was conferred on them during the 1st Capacity Building workshop organized by the Ministry at the conference hall of the Ministry of Justice, State Secretariat Complex on Tuesday April 10, 2012.
Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Governor of Rivers state, represented by his Deputy Engr. Tele Ikuru sympathized with persons with disabilities and said disability is not a condition chosen by the victims but a condition one found himself.
He added that the state would do well to sympathize with PWD through meeting their needs by empowerment in different ways.
Chairman of the occasion, Apostle Eugene Ogu in his opening remarks called on the state house of Assembly to make laws that would compel public buildings to make provisions that would be accessible for disables to enter, and called on philanthropists including NGOs to assist the less privileged and
PWDs. Dame Judith Amaechi gave a cash donation of N500,000 to five PWDs as a way of helping them.
The commissioner in charge of the Ministry, Hon. Joe Philip Poroma in his welcome address said the government has given oversea and local scholarship to PWDs. He explained that there is ability in disability as some of these persons have great growth and developmental potentials and frowned at discrimination against them before.
Speaking to news men in his office, Apostle Eugene Ogu who is the National Secretary of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) indicated surprise for the award given to him by the Government as he was not ringing bells while doing what he was doing.
He has it that this is a proof that whatever thing man does in life people are watching.
He tagged the honour, “Part of the Easter celebration of victory over Devil, victory of light over darkness”. He dedicated the award to his wife whom he said, has released him out to do all that he is doing.
According to him, he (Eugene Ogu) has not even a batcher in his home as a house for himself, but have over 300 persons on scholarship both local and overseas.
The Apostle pointed out changes done in his church for the easy entry and possible usage of facilities by PWDs.
He recounted so many things his NGO (Arms of Hope World Outreach) is doing, including building schools in Plateau State, empowering 150 Rivers indigence whose legs were amputated, giving them the sum of N100,000 each, rebuilding all houses that were destroyed in a particular village during crisis, and also set free people who were illegally kept in prison, among others.
He used the medium to advise NGO owners not to use it as a means of making money. ###
Mene Gbarabe
