Members of the NGO in group photography with Rev Fr. Maurice Emelu in middle (with dark eye glass). Pix by Everest Ezihe, Umuchima
….. Poised to feed 1000 families
From Everest Ezihe, Orlu
As a prelude to its mega programme of philanthropically feeding 1,000 Nigerian families of 5 persons each (5,000 beneficiaries) for one month, Gratia Vobis Ministries, lnc, USA, a non governmental global organization through its Reverend Sisters arm known as Sisters of Vobis have distributed 800 hygienic books to pupils and schools within Umuchima autonomous community in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State,Nigeria.
Rev Sister Oluwa Kemi, of daughters of Saint Paul Congregation or Paulite’s daughters made the donations on Wednesday at Central School 1, Umuchima noting that as a collaborative partners to the non governmental organization’s mission and vision of bettering the welfare of humanities.
Kemi said that she feels highly emotional dealing with children, especially the rural ones and fundamentally they are committed in teaching children the right ways of living, especially protection of minors as her organization detests abuse of children.
She also lamented over the alarming increase in abuse of children especially in Nigeria, even as she canvassed of the need for their protections through reading and learning of basic hygienes, as well as reading useful stories that can make the children grow healthy and be apprehensive of any abuse threat.
The Reverend Sister further commended the teachers for their labour of love, as each of the children received a book as shared to them by privileged kids like them that came from United States of America.
The books title are: Jingo the Stammerer and other stories, My Body is Sacred Don’t Destroy, Hygiene for Kids and Care for the Environment etc.
In his speech, Rev. Fr. Maurice Emelu,the Founder of the international non governmental organization and Priest of the Catholic Diocese of Orlu, who earlier took some members of the public including critical stakeholders to see 1100 bags (50 kg) rice parked, ready for distribution the next day to the poor and vulnerable families after giving them 8 course meals, describing them as VIPs ( Very Important Personalities) while identifying himself as one of the pupils, having shared the same communal ancestral birth with them.
Emelu who also visited the school with most members of his immediate family, the Catholic Bishop of Minna, Niger State and the Ministry’s Spiritual Director, Bishop Martin Uzoukwu, the Ministry members both home and abroad, the President of the Ministry, Paul Verderber, and his wife MaryAnn Verderber, the Ministry’s foreign media crew, the Vobis Sisters of West African Publications who are supporting the feeding of the 5,000 families by presenting relevant health books to the pupils.
“Having the opportunity of entering your class for the first time in life and I have seen how it looks like, it’s left for me to know what to do for its improvement, part of what we do as a mission is that we believe in qualitative education” he assured.
Emelu who’s also an Associate Professor of Communication & Digital Media at John Carroll University, US also said that, ” am delighted to be here, to be part of the community ones again, not just as a way to give handout, but as a way to treat people with dignity. Because that’s the inspiration to this whole initiative. God put it in my heart years back to say how can you celebrate a unique time in your life.
“This year is the year of the church as Pope Francis calls it the Jubilee of Hope, in which the Holy Father, and the whole Church is invited to look at the poor with special care. So in my own Ministry, Gratia Vobis Ministries, INCs we decided that as part of what God has laid in my heart, which is, how can we treat the poor as kings and queens. The society calls them the poor, but in my own Ministry we call them, the VIPs. That’s why the theme of this event is, God’s VIPs, the Jubilee of Hope.
“So we are going to give each of the 1100 families one bag of 50 kg quality rice, money, and equally give them some red carpet reception treatment in a tent like a banquet, where they will be served food as kings and queens. They don’t have to queue up to receive the grains, as it will be taken to their houses with the buses sent out to convey them here.
“This is one of our ways of putting smiles on people’s faces, and to tell them they are very important no matter their status in the society. There are other people we will give scholarships and other institutions we intend building to bequeath people with the skills they needed to be economically independent.
” I am not interested in politics. This is one of our ways of supporting the government, whose role is to put up infrastructures that will enable businesses thrive, and empower people to aid build a nation of our dreams.
“Let’s have the mindset of thinking of what Jesus will do in every situation which will help us see life from a better and different perceptive.
“The 5000 beneficiaries are drawn from the 5 South East States of Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia, with a bus that will bring them in and take them back”.
Mrs.Josephine Duru Onyenakazi, the Headmistress of the School expressed gratitude for the kind gestures and prayed for God’s abundance blessings upon the donors.
Speaking to News men also, the President of Gratia Vobis Ministries, INC, Paul Verderber, with his wife, MaryAnn Verderber said they are delighted to be in Nigeria to witness the outreach commitments to humanity and the society at large.
Verderbers thumbed up Father Maurice Emelu for his philanthropic vision and mission, assuring that the NGO will never relent in her endaevours of uplifting humanity and the society at large.
They thanked the people for their hospitality, and expressed their love for the country Nigeria.
Speaking also,the Catholic Bishop of Minna Niger State, Bishop Martin Uzoukwu, said
“I am here to bless the people, and celebrate Mass. We should love one another as Christ loved us. It is Jesus Christ that has empowered Father Maurice to do this through his Ministry, and I love the idea that he sees the poor as God’s VIP.
“Others should emulate his gestures and equally see a way to reach out to the poor and vulnerable ones in the society, by building factories that will provide jobs to the people, so that they could stop begging on the streets.
A Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Orlu, and General Coordinator of the event, Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Uzochukwu, who based in the United Kingdom said that they are feeding people they call, God’s VIP, stressing that the arrangements have been seamlessly perfected.
“We took into consideration the health and safety of every person, did the risk assessment, and so have medical team on standby for the main event on Thursday. We carefully selected the people and made such it is truly for people that need the support.
“We have luxurious buses conveying the people who have been properly accredited for the event. We are giving out 1100 bags of 50kg quality rice to the people, which the buses will convey to their destination where it will be shared.
“The programmes are tailored towards messages of hope, as we understands their challenges. We don’t want them to feel being neglected due to their challenges in life. This year, the Catholic church is celebrating it as the year of hope, and that is what we want to give to the people, especially the people our Ministry describes as VIPs. We want to support the government in improving the welfare of the people and cushion hunger.
He described Father Maurice as a dedicated honest priest, who has the people’s interest at heart.
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