By Agbo Amuche, Abakaliki
Like the biblical woman who gave her last keg of oil to prophet Elijah and was rewarded with abundance of it was the case of a widow,Mrs Nwode,a native of Ikwo Local Government Area whose life of generousity attracted favour of three plots of land by the founder Indigent Care Foundation Professor Adaeze Nwuzor.
The widow who was said to be known by her uncommon character of giving assistantance to the less privileged among students,was rewarded with the documents at Justice Nwuzor country home, Abarigwe-Ishieke, Ebonyi Local Government Area during an event to mark 15th anniversary thanksgiving ceremony of Ben-Laz Christian family celebration.
Speaking at the event, professor Nwuzor said her objective of assisting the people was boiled out of her heart of giving aid to the indigent persons, owning to the fact that God has touched her life in many ways.
She stated that Ben Laz family celebration was initiated by her late husband late justice Lazarus Nwuzor on Easter Monday,2006 but vowed to continue with the gesture, adding that the anniversary is being used to commemorate the resurrection of our lord Jesus Christ.
She charged beneficiaries to judiciously use the gift as to attain the set objectives of the educational friendly late justice.
Professor Nwuzor however described mrs. Veronica Nwode as a virtuous woman who has distinguished herself among her contemporaries while urging her to remain resolute to God and make effort to develop the land to assist her in the upbringing of her children.
However, prof. Nwuzor noted that the resurrection of the lord Jesus Christ is a mystery and called on Christians to always see Christ as their saviour owing his capacity of handling human problems.
She reiterated her commitment in assisting widows, less privileged as to ameliorate their plights.
The former Senior Special Assistant to Ebonyi State Governor on Higher Education also paid WAEC registeration fees of over ten students drawn from Abarigwe Technical College and disbursed cash gifts with other valuable items to the people she sponsored in marriage, baptism, confirmation and her name sakes.
Receiving the gift, Mrs Nwode described the landed property as a shock, stressing that her relationship with the family which had lasted for some time was not different from others who had lived in their family house and charged christians to show love to all as no one would tell what his deed would bring to her in the future.
“I came to know this family few years ago when prof.came to register some students and somebody referred her to us that the children will stay with us which we accepted them and today,that help has rewarded my family with landed property at a good site in AE-FUNAI through the instrumentality of Professor Adaeze Nwuzor.
“I’m from Ikwo Local Government Area and a widow, but like the Bible say; out of ten leapers I healed but few came to testify. Mrs Nwuzor has paid us for all the countless number of school children we have assisted and more by uplifting my family this far and am asking people to show love for in doing so would welcome Christ in their home.
Earlier in a sermon to mark the anniversary, the chaplain of St. Thomas chapel, Pastoral Center, Abakaliki, Reverend James Oforbuike Nwophoke stressed the need for women to be accorded a special treatment in the society, as they are the one who saw Jesus Christ first when he resurrected from the tomb, urging the people to see Easter as a period of sober reflection that needs propagation of hope, positivity and unrelentless irrespective of all odds.
The cleric who doubled as the chaplain of Ben Laz family further noted that women should be accorded with a greater value in view of the fact that message about resurrection of Jesus Christ was brought by them.
He called on women never to relent in doing good despite what people may take them to be while calling all and sundry to champion for unity and peaceful coexistence to move their families forward.
Also speaking, the former chairman, Secondary Education Board Dr. Elizabeth Ezeanyim in her message titled children upbringing, carrier guidance and selection advised parents to take care of their children especially at their tender age and allow them to choose the area God destined for them..
Dr. Ezeanyim hinted that children should be allowed to make their choices and selection of career to avoid being misguided as it would help to improve a happy family.
However, the secretary of indigent care foundation Mrs. Mercy Icha congratulated Professor Adaeze Nwuzor for her divine assistance to the downtrodden and downgraded in the society.
She stated that professor Nwuzor had been investing her resources to the indigents for the past fifteen years and expressed optimism that God would continue to provide for her, thus, described her as a succor giver and a mother per excellence.
In their good will messages Barr. Boniface Ezzagu and Hon. Veronica Aliefa described the philanthropic disposition of the benefactor as rare and encouraged other women and men to emulate from her.
“I have helped many children for years in our Ikwo Community where I lived with my husband who is now late. I do these voluntarily, and that was how I came to know the founder of Indigent Care Foundation, Professor Adaeze Nwuzor who once brought some persons to stay in our family house. After the death of my husband,I continued with that life because I learnt it from him and here I was invited for
Others who spoke including Mrs. Veronica Nwode and Arin Onwe expressed happiness and thanked Professor Nwuzor for her kind gesture noting that the development is second to none and prayed God to replenish her accordingly.
The event featured the coronation of Professor Adaeze Nwuzor as mother charity by the leadership of Indigent Care Foundation and dancing competition by different groups.