Human capital development, poverty alleviation, remain our priority- Enugu Govt
The Enugu State Government says Governor Peter Mbah’s administration will continue to place human capital development and poverty alleviation at the centre of its agenda.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia gave the commendation on Friday at the 5th anniversary of the Chijioke Ugwueze Memorial Foundation (CUMEF) at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Enugu.
Onyia said the state government was ready to partner with individuals and organisations to alleviate poverty across the state, which he noted the Foundation stood for.
According to him, late Ugwueze’s legacy has continued to speak loudly years after his death, describing it as evidence of true leadership that lifted burdens from the less privileged in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of the state.
The SSG also commended the foundation for sustaining the humanitarian legacy of late Ugwueze through life-changing interventions.
In his welcome address, the CUMEF Board of Trustees chairman, Prof. Sam Ugwu, said the foundation had made significant contributions to education, youth and women empowerment, healthcare, and poverty reduction in Enugu State over the past five years.
Ugwu disclosed that CUMEF was established to preserve the humanitarian legacy of the late lawmaker through sustainable interventions that supported vulnerable groups, including widows, youths, persons with disabilities, and indigent families.
The BOT chairman highlighted the Foundation’s achievements, including the award of scholarships to undergraduates, business grants for widows, educational support for dozens of secondary school students, medical assistance for indigent persons among other interventions.
He reaffirmed CUMEF’s commitment to expanding its programmes across Enugu State and the South-East through strategic partnerships.
Also, the former Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Chief Edward Ubosi, described the late Chijioke Ugwueze as a man whose legacy continued to live on through his humanitarian interventions.
Ubosi said the late Ugwueze remained a close friend and colleague in the seventh Assembly, whose contributions to the development of Enugu State and the welfare of the less privileged would never be forgotten.
He commended the widow of the late philanthropist for sustaining her husband’s humanitarian vision and pledged his continued support for the Foundation, describing it as a noble investment in humanity.
In her remarks, the Founder of CUMEF, Mrs Amaka Ugwueze, revealed that the foundation was established in fulfillment of her husband’s wish, which she regretted was not achieved before his death.
She added that the foundation had given financial grants to widows, trained unemployed youths and women on vocational and skill acquisition as well as assisted persons with disabilities with relief materials.
The founder said through its university scholarship scheme, it had provided full educational support to 14 indigents but academically outstanding students studying courses in different universities across the country.
“The scholarship programme is an investment in the future of the communities, because education remains one of the most sustainable tools for breaking the cycle of poverty.
“Beyond education, the CUMF has continued to promote social cohesion through annual novelty football matches aimed at engaging young people, fostering unity, and encouraging healthy interaction among community members.
“99 per cent of the beneficiaries are indigenous residents from less privileged backgrounds, which underscores the growing need for expanded humanitarian interventions.
“We therefore appeal to corporate organisations, philanthropic individuals, and development partners to support our programmes, to enable us extend scholarships, empowerment initiatives, and welfare services to more indigent persons”, she noted.
Chijioke Ugwueze was a politician and lawmaker who represented Isi-Uzo Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly.
He served as the Chairman of the Assembly’s House Committee on Transport. He died in June 2020 at the age of 49.