By Kenneth Onuoha
A clergy and former governorship candidate in Enugu State, Rev. Donatus Ozoemena, has urged privileged individuals in the society to assist government in the areas of job creation and youth empowerment in order to curb restiveness in the state.
Ozoemena, who is also the General Overseer of a United States of America based church, God’s Live Anointed Ministries, made the call on Monday, while distributing charity packages to 20 communities within Awgu Local Government Area of the state.
The charity packages included food items, cash, scholarship award, among others, to mark the Yuletide season.
He said, “My heart hungers for more good, better developments and more improvements as well as to expand the scope of this charity beyond Awgu council area to the entire state and South-East.
“We hope to accommodate other council areas in the state come next edition.
“I urge our well-to-do men and women to join in supporting and empowering our youths through any means possible in order to better our communities, council areas, state and Nigeria at large’’.
Ozoemena, who was governorship candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP) in the 2019 election, appreciated citizens of the state for their prayers, support and goodwill towards him and his family.
He revealed that he had planned to scale up the 2020 charity, but for the “global destabilising effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Over 520 indigent residents benefited from the outreach, as he pledged to continue to use his God-given resources as well as his local and international contacts to better the lives of the people.
On the mode of selection of beneficiaries of his scholarship,the clergy explained that it would be done by raffle draw to ensure transparency, fairness and impartiality; adding that one secondary school student would be selected from every village in Awgu town.
According to him, every winner would receive the sum of N30,000 for an academic session.
He also paid special tribute to a football player, late Uche Abuchi, who had participated in the 2019/2020 edition of his sponsored “De Governor’s Cup” but died midway into the build-up to the current edition.
One of the beneficiaries of the food and cash gifts, Mrs Josephine Chijioke, prayed to God to continue to bless and expand Ozoemena’s coast.
“My family will continue to pray to God to preserve him to enable him to continue his good works for humanity,’’ Chijioke said.
Another beneficiary, Madam Chioma Okafor, appreciated Ozoemena and his family for remembering her this season and prayed for good health for them.