Foundation, oil firm move to enhance welfare of less-privileged people of Anambra, others

Brittania-U Nigeria Limited (BUNL), an indigenous oil and gas company, and Lilyford Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), have provided sucour for widows and other less-privileged people of the state..

The events took place simultaneously at the Obi of Onitsha’s Palace, at Onitsha and Iyi-Enu Missionary Hospital, Ogidi, both in Anambra State. The flagg- off of the event was performed by the Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano, ably represented by Dr. Nkem Okeke, the Deputy Governor of the state, who was accompanied by his beautiful wife.

Welcoming dignitaries at the event, the Chief Executive Officer, Brittania-U Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Uju Ifejika, (OFR) said that Lilyford Foundation was set up in honour and memory of their late parents, Chief Clifford Nwobu Ikpeze and Mrs Elizabeth Chigo Ikpeze, who lived their lives helping others, sacrificing their own comfort and the well-being of their children to ensure that they cater for the less privileged.

In continuation of the objectives of Lilyford Foundation Mrs. Ifejika said: “We are looking at areas where people are mostly in need of urgent assistance.” She stated that her father died of prostate cancer in 1999 at a ripe age of 89 years; while her mother had high blood pressure, which she battled with for eight years before her death in 2005 at the age of 75 years.

“The children of Chief Clifford and Elizabeth Ikpeze decided that they cannot allow the legacy of our parents to die. That was the reason we are intervening in the areas of prostate cancer and high blood pressure, because if you’re careful and properly manage your blood pressure you can live long or in relatively good health.”

She added: “The problem that all of us faces, is that we don’t take good care of our health on a regular basis.” She mentioned further that the Foundation will intervene in the areas of diabetes. “I am told that before most patients realize they have diabetes it’s already too late due to lack of awareness and poor management. The Foundation will also treat the elderly who have rheumatism.”

She emphasized that this is a slow killer which affects elderly and even young obese individuals. “Also, the Foundation’s intervention areas will cover persons who have eye problems as they will receive treatments, and where need be they may be given medicated glasses. Both the treatment and the eye glasses will be free. In respect of the treatment to be offered there will be a follow-up.” The Foundation provided 700 free eye glasses.

In concluding her address Mrs. Ifejika stated that the Foundation will positively impact on the lives of indigent widows, widowers, and elderly who are aged 80 and above. “We will provide them funds, rice and cloths from time to time. She further stated that though the Foundation cannot achieve all its objectives at once but this being the maiden edition of Lilyford Foundation outreach, “we would at this time want to see how far we can go and what we need to do in other to take the Foundation’s objective to the next level.”

Turning to the state Deputy Governor, Mrs. Ifejika stated that the Foundation will work with the Anambra State government as well as other state governors to explore areas of collaborations with the government in other to improve the health sector in the state and indeed the nation.

The State Deputy Governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, in his remarks thanked Lilyford Foundation and Brittania-U Nigeria limited for their intervention particularly in the health sector, noting that inspite of government’s efforts at both federal and states in the health sector, the Foundation’s assistance would be immensely beneficial. He indicated that because of high premium the Anambra Government placed on health, that was the reason why the governor, Chief Willie Obiano, decided to establish insurance policy to cater for the health requirements of the indigenes in need of health services. He noted that after the live tour of the doctors consulting rooms and the dispensary where he met with over 40 doctors (both local and overseas) and 50 nurses at the venue, that not only is the programme carried in a very large scale, which he noted was unprecedented. He noted that the drugs that are being dispensed, as well as the multivitamins were of very high quality and commended the management of Lilyford Foundation, Brittania-U Nigeria, Fidelity Bank PLC and other donors who made the event successful.

At Ogidi, Mrs. Ifejika said that Lilyford Foundation will partner with Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital owned by the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, Diocese on the Niger, Ogidi, Anambra State and see how the Foundation could explore its contact of donor agencies within and outside the country in support of the Mission Hospital in any way possible.

Venerable Chris Amaku, the Administrator of Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital said that given the selfless life led by the late Chief Clifford Ikpeze of Ikenga Ogidi, he was not surprised that the Foundation was in partnership with the hospital.

According to him, “If the Foundation continues this way, many poor people will be able to have access to quality health care services; and those who are financially challenged will see this as an opportunity to help them.”

After the successful outing on December 30, on December 31, 2017, the Foundation officials and the family of Chief Clifford Ikpeze had a thanksgiving service which was held at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Ikenga Ogidi, Anambra State.

The Archbishop Province of Enugu and Bishop of Enugu, Archbishop Emmanuel Chukwuma, who officiated at the service in company of his wife, Mrs. Joyce, said that the good deeds of the late Chief and Mrs Ikpeze, that had brought people from far and near to immortalize them was worthy of emulation by all living souls.

The Archbishop noted that the late Chief Ikpeze was a man of peace and that during his life people in Ikenga were influenced to be at peace with one another.

In appreciating the action of the children in remembering their late parents, Chief and Mrs. Ikpeze, the Archbishop urged people who are financially buoyant in the congregation to reach out to the less privileged in the society. He noted that: “today the Ikpeze children who are well trained are immortalizing their parents. This is worthy of emulation for parents to lay a solid foundation for their children. We should endeavor to reach out to the less privileged and give a helping hand and not wait for the government of the day to provide for everybody’s need. Rather, we can touch lives in our own small ways.” The Foundation attended to more than 7,500 patients and widows in the two day events.

At the end of the thanksgiving service, the family of Chief Clifford Ikpeze, represented by the most senior son, Chief Mbanefor Ikpeze and his other siblings, namely: Chief Emeka Ikpeze, (the Ogene of Ogidi) MD/CEO Valdis Pharmaceutical Coy, Mr. Franklin Ikpeze, based in USA, Mr. Obinna Ikpeze, Senior Special Assistant to the Anambra State Governor, Mrs. Ada Kio with the Chairman/CEO of Brittania-U Nigeria Limited handed over the key of a 25 seater bus(which was donated by the Foundation) to St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Ogidi, to the Archbishop who then prayed and blessed the bus.

Peter Fowoyo