THE RICE MAN’S CALL TO SERVICE

A few years ago, Barrister Kenneth Imansuangbon (aka Rice man), ex-governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Edo State, made a promise which today has been kept. While thanking the management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) under the leadership of the then Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Michael Ibadin, for the role the facility played in bringing him back to life after a ghastly auto crash which nearly claimed his spinal cord in 2013, he promised to give back to the hospital as a mark of appreciation.

Imansuangbon on the occasion as he recounted the sordid experience said,”God Almighty used UBTH and the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Professor Michael Ibadin, to save my life in 2013.
“After the truck hit my vehicle, my spinal cord was almost gone but Professor Ibadin said my spinal cord must not crumble. The hospital resuscitated me and I am alive today.

“So, I made a promise to myself that I will always donate to this hospital annually to show gratitude to them.”
However, doubting Thomases were opportuned to hear how Imansuangbon has kept to his promise when Professor Ibadin made mention of it while he bestowed an award on him recently “for his philanthropic gesture towards indigent patients in the hospital and providing financial support for the hospital.”

The occasion was a valedictory session to mark the end of the eight years tenure of Professor Ibadin as the Chief Medical Director of UBTH.

Explaining the reasons for the honour, Prof. Ibadin said the recipient provided exceptional support for the hospital in times of need.

Prof. Ibadin said Imasuangbon has lived up to his promise to provide annual financial support since 2013.
“Imasuangbon had an accident in 2013 and we managed him successfully here before he was flown abroad.
“He was taken abroad not because we couldn’t take care of him but he made a self referral.

“Imansuangbon came back and commended us and said that as mark of our ability to manage him, he will make some money available and he has kept to his promise,” Professor Ibadin disclosed.

He stated that Imasuangbon has also helped to pay hospital bills of indigent patients as part of his promise.
Imasuangbon, who was represented by Dr. Obehi Akoria, thanked the hospital for the honour and promised to do more to uplift the poor and needy.

Most people who are familiar with the philanthropic gestures of the politician cum school proprietor will always talk about a horde of his yeoman efforts to make life meaningful for the needy.

On a yearly basis, the Ewohimi- born Imansuangbon’s foundation organises an essay competition for students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions across the 18 local government areas of the state where prizes and gifts ranging from educational materials to money and scholarships are offered to successful participants.
The programme has been on for about ten years.

His Pacesetters Group of Schools situated in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory provides qualitative education to pupils at affordable cost.

It’s also public knowledge that every Christmas season for close to ten years now, Imansuangbon traverses the nook and crannies of Edo State with trailer loads of bags of rice shared out to whoever desires it irrespective of their political affiliation, religious leaning and ethnic grouping.

For someone who grew up in a humble home, he describes his actions as “a call to service.”

According to him, “Each time I see people suffering, I weep; I cannot hold back. I can give everything I have rather than see somebody go naked. That’s me; I can’t change it. I’ve found out that you don’t need even one per cent of your total earning in life; sit down and calculate all that you’ve eaten today. I have a divine call to give and I get satisfaction doing just that. Each time you give, God will never allow you to go hungry. Giving is not about cash; you can give in different ways. When you give your time, you are contributing to the good of the society.

‘’Those who give are the true patriots of the society.”