Akwa Ibom: It pays to support the Downtrodden
“The King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you visited me…” Matthew 34-36 in the Holy Bible.
As a passionate observer of activities in our society, I will be failing if I do not commend and spotlight in no particular order, the following Akwa Ibom sons, daughters and daughters-in-law for providing shelter to the homeless and for touching lives of the downtrodden in our society:
Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel:
It is on record that as at 2018, the wife of the governor of Akwa Ibom, Mrs Martha Emmanuel, has built and furnished over 24 bungalow houses for widows and widowers in the State since 2015. The first lady made this disclosure during the maiden edition of Eket Women’s Day Celebration in Eket Local Government Area of the state. The houses, according to her, were built and furnished through the Family Empowerment and Youth Re-Orientation Initiative (FEYReP), her pet project. This is laudable, more grease to her elbow! May God reward Her Excellency!
Mrs. Ekaette-Unoma Akpabio:
The former first lady had during and after the tenure of her husband, Senator Godswill Akpabio as governor, built and donated houses to the homeless in the State. One of such gestures was on the 12th December, 2020 when she handed over a well furnished bungalow to Mrs. Mfon Mendie Okon, a 40 years old widow with five children in Oruk Anam LGA. Mrs. Okon’s husband died while she was pregnant with her fifth and last child. Life became so difficult for Mrs. Okon as her dilapidated thatched house had collapsed. She relocated to her husband’s family compound – a house which also had its roof shattered by thunderstorm. Mrs. Mfon Okon suffered each time it rained because she would have to cuddle her five children in a corner of the dilapidated infrastructure in spite of the cold. But Mrs. Mfon’s sad story changed when Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio heard her story and decided to build and donate a two bedroom bungalow to her and her children through the Godswill Akpabio Foundation. God bless Her Excellency!
Ini Ememobong:
He is the Commissioner for Information in Akwa Ibom State. Prior to his appointment as a commissioner, it is on record that the 24th May, 2020, he built and donated a two-bedroom apartment to Mr./Mrs. Asuquo Asuquo, indigenes of Use Abat in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. The building was part of efforts by the Ini Ememobong Foundation to help the family get on their feet. The wife of Ini Ememobong, Mrs. Chinonyerem, who is the vice chairman of the Foundation had on 20th April, 2020 took the same family to the hospital for medical attention and provided a temporary rented accommodation for the family as well as donated clothes and food items to them. Speaking at the event, Comrade Ini Ememobong, chairman of the Ini Ememobong Foundation, noted that the project was in support of Dr. Martha Udom Emmanuel’s FEYReP Shelter of Hope project.
Okon Okon:
His name may not rings a bell in the political scene of Akwa Ibom state. But, he is doing a lot for his people. A financial expert and currently, the chairman of the Akwa Ibom Internal Revenue Services. On the 19th June, 2020, he built and donated a house for a widow, Mrs. Alice Affiong and a Manse for a clergy of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Ekpene Ibia, Uruan local government area. The two houses were commissioned by the wife of the State Governor, Dr. (Mrs) Martha Udom Emmanuel, who expressed appreciation to Mr. Okon Okon and his family for providing shelter for widow and for building a Manse for the Lord.
Enobong Uwah:
Prince Enobong Uwah, a silent achiever, on 16th January, 2021, to mark his 52nd birthday, built and donated a 250-seater capacity auditorium at Atan Offot, Uyo, to the Living Faith Church (a.k.a. Winners Chapel) and a house to Mrs. Bessie Ben, a widow from Atan Offot in Uyo local government area whose house caught fire on 10th August, 2020. Otuekong Uwah, the Executive Chairman of Uyo Capital City Development Authority, (UCCDA), said, at the event that he made the donations as a way of appreciating God’s blessings and faithfulness to him and his family over the years.
Ephraim Inyangeyen:
On Tuesday, 3rd March, 2020, Akparawa Ephraim Inyangeyen, built and donated a two-bedroom bungalow to a 104 years centenarian window, Madam Tom, in Ikot Ebiere village, Onna local government area. The same day, he also donated a two-bedroom bungalow to another widow and mother of four, Mrs. Alice Joseph, at Ibesit Anwa Udo in Oruk Anam local government area. The widows who received the keys to their new apartments from the First Lady, Mrs. Martha Emmanuel, thanked God for using Mr. Inyangeyen and his wife, Mrs. Ime, to provide shelter for them and their families. Mr. Inyangeyen had in 2019 donated a building to a widow in Ikot Ekpene under the auspices of FEYReP and another 3 bedroom bungalow to a family whose Thatch roofed house was gutted by fire in Onna. Mr. Inyangeyen always expressed appreciation to the governor and the wife, Dr. (Mrs.) Martha Emmanuel, for considering him worthy to serve the people of Akwa Ibom State. He was at the time, Commissioner for Works and Fire Service but, currently, the Chief of Staff to Governor Udom Emmanuel.
These individuals have carve a niche for themselves in their contributions to uplifting the downtrodden in our society and deserved our applause and prayers. That said, I urge other well placed citizens of the State to emulate them and live for others in your immediate communities.
Let’s look around us today, there are a lot of those in dire need of food, shelter, water, medical attention, and other necessary amenities of life. Let’s do the little we can to help them survive this harsh economy and trying moment of our nation!
~ Franklyn Isong is a public affairs commentator and conscience of the society
