by Onyebuchi Ememanka
Yesterday was Samaritan Sabbath in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, a time to show love and kindness to those who are not as privileged as we are.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu took part in the Samaritan Service at the SDA Church, Hilltop, Ogbor Hill, Aba where he made a pledge to God to build a HOME for destitute and homeless persons in Aba.
According to the Governor, he has had this burden in his heart, each time he drives past and sees these destitute persons sleeping on the streets at night. Resources available to Government has never been enough in the face of competing demands and so he decided to embark on this project in his personal capacity.
And so this morning, at the premises of the REMAND HOME in Aba, the Governor laid the foundation stone for the project. The clearing of the site was done to a very large extent by volunteers who are mainly members of the SDA CHURCH, HILLTOP ABA.
Ikpeazu said the building will have two hostels for male and female, a clinic and a Skills Acquisition Center where these people can live and learn some skills that can help them find their feet and get reintegrated into society, instead of begging. Because of the number of people we expect here when we kick off in the next few months, we will rehabilitate another building at the Remand Home to complement what we will build.
”My vision in this project”, Ikpeazu continues, “is a place where we can have a pool of willing artisans who have been schooled in some basic skills like carpentry, masonry, tiling, etc, a Center where people can go and easily find workers skilled and knowledgeable in different areas. We will also look out for those with some entrepreneurial acumen who we can assist to start up a small trade. I will get my friend, Dr. Wehibe, an American based expert in social rehabilitation of destitute persons to run the center. It is my prayer that the target persons take advantage of this small contribution to find a life for themselves”.
The Governor then laid the ceremonial foundation stone in the presence of Elders and some members of the Church, in addition to other people.
