..Founder Preaches Craft Modernization
From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Non Governmental Organization, Regina Pacis Foundation 18th year anniversary celebrated on weekend at Arc Edward Nkwegu’s villa, Nwofe Agbaja, Izzi LGA will ever remain fresh in the mind of Izhi people as it attracted creme la creme of all walks of life among gubernatorial candidates from various opposition political parties who preached on unity and support of Ebonyi North zone in producing a successor to Ebonyi state governor, Engr David Umahi come 2023.
The event used to marked the 18th year successful operation of the foundation witnessed series of endorsement of the party flagbearer, Arc Edward Nkwegu and other Labour Party candidates from various support groups and Civil Society Organizations.
Speaking, during the event, the founder of the foundation, and the Labour Party governorship candidate, Arch Edward Nkwegu appreciated friends and believers of the foundation for their continuous support in the interest of a better society.
Nkwegu, explained that the foundation with interest in human capacity development and giving succor to the less privileged had since inception witnessed enormous success.
According to him, “Regina Pacis Foundation started since 2005 and we have been growing from strength to strength with our focus on giving succor to the less privileged, empowerment, scholarship and skills vocational training.
“We discovered that money alone cannot solve the problem of poverty, seeing that people give money to the poor out of kindness but if you want to end poverty, give such persons financial education which is like the Chinese adage that says, give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but teach him how to fish and feed him for a life time.
“In Regina Pacis Foundation, we are at the level of teaching self sustenance and that’s why our programme are geared towards giving beneficiaries training on self reliance.”
He noted that beneficiaries of the foundation are majorly indigent and brilliant students cutting across the state.
He, however, advised Ebonyians to resist any form of money politics as exchanging their vote for gift would amount to trading their destiny for a paltry giveaway.
The governorship candidate admonished the people to embrace the culture of the land, hence, invest their exposure and education in revamping most artifacts that have been abandoned due to poor knowledge as such would help create jobs and improved on the beauty of Izhi culture.
“The exhibition is to tell our people where we come from and how our forefathers started because many have lost sight of our technology.
“It’s funny that it is still the technology of our forefathers is what still feeding us today and that’s hoe and cutlass despite our acclaimed exposure and education.
“The vegetable we eat today are research work of our forefathers which many are medicinal and these are what we suppose to remind our children to employ their modern education and technology in improving what our forefathers left behind using the training gained in class”.
Earlier, the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate, Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru commended the founder of the foundation for the sustenance of the programme.
He emphasized that the foundation has through its programmes and activities closed a gap in the vocational field and pray God for more wisdom to carry on the vision.
Also, the Young Progressives Party, YPP) governorship candidate, Sir Sunday Opoke, applauded the labour party candidate for keeping to his mandate since inception despite the harsh economic challenge.
Opoke called on the political office holders to encourage the youth to embrace entrepreneurship, hence, become wealth creators and not relying on government.
He further emphasized that the time is riped for Ebonyi North zone to produce the next Governor of the state and called on the people to work together while urging entire Ebonyians for their support.
Lending his voice, an elder Stateman, Senator Chris Nwankwo applauded Sir Nkwegu for engaging in life touching project and challenged the youth to build a life of legacy knowing that “life is meaningless’ without living a legacy behind.
Senator Nwankwo said, “This world is not our home; we’re just passing by, what’s important is the legacy we left behind,else, we are forgotten the moment we die.”
Others who spoke including, the labour party deputy governorship candidate, Prince Ajah Nwabueze, Ambassador Lawrence Nwuruku, Ebonyi Central Senatorial Candidate, Dr Ezeh Emmanuel Ezeh, House of Representatives candidate Abakaliki/Izzi Federal Constituency, commended the founder of the foundation for his consistency in giving back to the society and improving on people’s lives through vocational training and craftsmanship.
Highlight of the event were the official endorsement of the Labour Party governorship flag bearer and entire candidates of the party, exhibition of Izhi artifacts, presentation of traditional dances and endorsements cum award presentations.
