By Uzo Ugwunze
It was jubilation across all the three quarters that constituted Nnobi Community as High Chief Hamilton Chukwuemeka Ezeonu (Ikemba Nnobi), Founder of Hamilton & Thelma Ezeonu Foundation distributed bags of rice and clothes to over 500 beneficiaries while advocating for love and kindness towards people irrespective of their class, gender or place of origin.
Speaking at his country home, Ifite Nnobi, Idemili South Local Government Area, Anambra State where the rice, wrappers/clothes and cash gifts distribution took place through his Foundation in the spirit of love and Christmas, Ezeonu said he was also building a Stadium that will further bond the people of Nnobi.
“Nnobi is going forward. Let us be kind to each other. Love your neighbors.
My dream is that in the next few years everyone around the world will seek to visit Nnobi.
“This rice is just the beginning of more to come. We are building a stadium where those who are up to 65 years can come out to do sports. People use to segregate and carry out certain functions differently but that stadium is a place for rendezvous for all the people of Nnobi where we can see ourselves, know ourselves and bond together as Ndi Nnobi.
“Let us show love. When my father Late Samson Sahara Ezeonu was alive, anywhere in the world my father meets someone from Nnobi, he would do everything possible for that person to be okay. I used to wonder why the concern for Nnobi people and I later discovered that he loved his community and his people so much. So, I have decided to transfer that love to all Nnobi people.
“We have started a Hamilton and Thelma Ezeonu Foundation Salary scheme to help the Abandoned, those with debilitating illnesses which cannot work or earn a living by themselves. About 40 persons have been receiving salaries for the last few months but we are targeting up to 500 persons in the nearest future who will be receiving monthly salary. Our goal is that no one would be left behind without a helper.
“Charity begins at home. For now we started with Umuakuaso Ifite Nnobi, gradually we are extending the salary scheme to all Nnobi community and beyond.
“Just like when we started the distribution of school bags, we started with Ifite Nnobi school children but anywhere children see me they keep requesting for school bags, so I decided to share school bags in all the Public schools in Idemili South and Agulu. The next phase will be the entire public schools in Anambra. The thing is this, as much as you can, help people around you.
“Also, on the 28th of December there will be a little ceremony in memory of my father, Late Pa Samson Sahara Ezeonu.
If you know him very well, or have his picture or know something about him please feel free to share it with me.
“Empowerment and distribution of the gift items among other largesse is not just what we do at the end of the year but as the needs arise. We have gone beyond waiting for one year. As God blesses us , we try to reach out and bless people. This is the third phase of sharing gifts in this 2025.
“This year if we include the 500 bags we distributed today,we have done over 1000 bags of rice, for School bags we have distributed over 15,000 bags, for other forms of empowerment like cash gifts and clothes, we have empowered over 1000 persons.
“I am doing these things because of the legacies my father left behind. As a child my father told me that doing good lasts forever. 30 years after his demise, people are still talking about his good deeds as if he died yesterday.That has made me to understand that doing good is supreme to anything you have.
Secondly, there were many things my father had in mind to do when he was alive but had not the opportunity to accomplish before he left us, so I have continued from where he stopped and I am willing to do more.It is time for me to supercede what he has done, that is the driving force and my motivation,” said Ezeonu.
According to the Co founder, Dr Thelma Ezeonu, Christmas season is a period to extend love not just to our immediate family members but to anyone around you, your immediate community. The fact that God has blessed us we should be a blessing to people. We thought of adding clothes because we women like new clothes. No matter the quantity of clothes a woman has already, she would love to have a new one.
“On supporting my husband, that is what every marriage should be. Every Husband and wife should have one mindset to achieve good things together,” said Dr Mrs Ezeonu.
Earlier in his homily, Rev Fr. Vincent Nwanosike in the company of four other clergy men spoke on the virtue of charity as one of the greatest commandments urging other wealthy people to follow the footsteps of Christ the greatest giver and to emulate High Chief Hamilton Chukwuemeka Ezeonu on his Philanthropy who may not be the richest in Nnobi but has the heart to share with the needy.
Mrs Ifeoma Okonkwo Ozokpo, Mr Osita Ezenekwe, Mr Louis Ugokwe, Mrs Pauline Okoye, Ngozi Chigbo and many other beneficiaries were so elated to be remembered in the spirit of love this Christmas despite harsh economic situation of the country praying that God should bless and replenish the pockets of High Chief Hamilton Ezeonu and his amiable wife Dr Thelma Ezeonu for their Philanthropy.
They said that the Beauty of the Distribution of Bags of Rice, Wrappers and Cash Gifts is that it cuts across all the quarters in Nnobi: Ebenesi, Ngo and Awuda. Under Ebenesi we have 7 villages namely: Umuona, Ifite, Amadunu, Ubaha, Umuru, Umuafor and Eziora Villages. Under Ngo: We have Ndam which comprises of Umuikechem and Umuezeme, Umuagu, Eziagbom which comprises of Umuegbu and Agbom villages. Likewise, the beneficiaries also came from all the villages in Awuda quarters too.
