One Shola Olatunde in an emotional article he titled “an open letter to my role model described the Prince as the Prince of Philanthropy. Olatunde recalled some of the great feats by the Prince in the art of philanthropy. According to him, “The Prince, it may interest you to know that there are handfuls or many fans of yours who have consistently followed, monitored and read the humanitarian works that you have been offering to women, youths (undergraduates and graduates), the media, the less privilege etc. which to some should have accorded you a place, by way of immortalizing you while still alive. This is yet to be done by God knows who”.
He went further to state that he is aware of the Prince’s donation of bus to the National Association of Ijaw Female Students, donation of computer equipment to media organization such as the Tide Newspapers, set of computers and undisclosed cash to the Rivers State Chapter of NUJ, sponsorship of Mr. Valentine Ohu in Broadcast Journalism, Miss Crystabel Goddy in Acting, Mr. Telema Senibo in 3D Graphics, Miss Mercy Akudo also in Acting and Mr Stanley Kotey in 3D Graphics to the Del-York Film Academy are no longer news but have already been archived for posterity. Besides these, the reading public are in the known of the various roles you played in creating awareness for the melancholic plight of the less privileged in our society. This can be seen in your sponsorship of NNENDA, a Nigerian home video that highlighted the plight of abandoned children and not too long ago, you overwhelmingly endeared yourself particularly to me when once again you identified in no mean measure with the sponsorship of “Melody Shelters Singing Talent Show” wherein the final events according to one Nwaorgu Faustinus saw Godswill Orphanage of Kogi State clinching the coveted trophy and the Championship Prize of N10M while the Runners-up, the Lifetime Orphanage of Rivers State got the Prize of N5M. Rachael Homes, Abuja came in third carting home the N3M prize. Five Hundred Thousand each was given to the other remaining five Homes as co-champions.
Your contribution in your father’s scholarship scheme is not only resounding but also unparalleled because it has given so many indigent youths rare privilege to pursue their educational careers in higher Institutions. I praise God for bringing forth your type of person into this world to use what nature has bestowed on you to bless others; Mr Olatunde concluded.
To over 189 Men of God comprising of Apostles, General Overseers, Bishops, Pastors that have decided to rally round the Prince to pray and support him spiritually in his philanthropic activities. During their recent visit to the Prince, they stated, “We have observed with happiness your exemplary efforts in affecting the lives of our youths, women, Journalists etc and we feel that we need to visit you and encourage you in all that God has put in your hand to use and change the face of politics in our country and Rivers State in particular. Most importantly, to urge you to consider one of your famous statements that politics is too important to be left to politicians and in that regard, to encourage you to play a major role in the political affairs of Nigeria come 2015 as the danger of sitting on the fence is dangerous and will no longer be tolerated if the danger ahead of us as a country because of inept leadership is taking into consideration”.
To Mr. Charles Pokulo the President of Princewill Support Group and Dr Carl Nosakhare O. Isibor the leader of South-South Summit Group;” with the type of the Prince’s politics of affecting and turning around the fortunes of our people which simply demonstrate that we still have a future in this country. “We have resolved to carry the gospel of Prince Tonye Princewill to all nooks and crannies of this country and that is why we are here to assure you that we are with you in your drive to show us the way politically”.
Mr. Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima the Publisher/Editor of Nigerians Report quoting the gospel of St. Mathew Chapter 5:14-16 profusely described the Prince as the Prince of Charity while Kingsley Kem Eben a Nigerian Social Critic based in London described the Prince thus, “not only that you are blessed to bless others, you are a blessing to humanity, Rivers state & Nigeria! You are the New Nigerian Leadership we believe In! Your Generosity is immeasurable, unquantifiable NAD God will surely bless you”.
The Prince of Kalabari land denied any political undertone behind all that he is doing though people are bound to read politics in whatever you are trying to do. ‘As an individual and as a young man and as a citizen of the state, what I am interested in doing is promoting the talents that we have not just finding them, I want to promote the talents. So the main work begins after discovering them and put them at par with the Duncan Mighty of this world. Hopefully, we now, can take them to the next level.
Conclusively, Prince Tonye Princewill has done so much to solve the problem of his people: a fact aptly captured by Mr. Dagogo Emmanuel, his Finance Manager, quoting the famous Miriam Beard, “The results of philanthropy are always beyond calculation” as we have committed over 550million in our charity activities since January, 2012 and the unrecorded humanitarian acts of the Prince may even surpass what is recorded. We hope before the end of this year organize a football completion that will involve some past football stars based in Port Harcourt, female and under 18 Soccer Tournaments in our drive to continue to give succor to our youths.
Let me conclude this treatise by quoting Dr. Pearl S. Buck, “The test of a civilization is in the way that it cares for its helpless members”.
Eze Chukwuemeka Eze is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt
