By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Chief Executive Officer of Cubana Groups and chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Ikenna Iyiegbu, popularly known as Ike Cubana, has explained the philosophy and motivation behind the ongoing power intervention and electrification projects being executed by the Cubana Groups in parts Oba community, in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Iyiegbu, a philanthropist and business mogul-turned politician, disclosed this shortly after formally presenting two electricity transformers — a 500KVA and a 300KVA — donated by the Cubana Groups to different parts of Oba, a gesture he described as a continuation of the Group’s long-standing culture of giving back to society.
He explained that the 500KVA transformer, which was donated to Aborji village in Oba, was to address years of total blackout that had significantly affected economic, institutional and social activities in the area.
According to him, the intervention will restore electricity to key public institutions and neighbourhoods, including the Merchant of Light School, Oba; Ugwuwe Primary School, Good Shepherd Church, Afor Oba Market and surrounding residential areas.
Hon. Iyiegbu disclosed that Aborji village had been without electricity for close to three years following the collapse of an old transformer that had served the community since 1979, leaving residents to endure prolonged darkness.
He further revealed that a 300KVA transformer was also donated by his conglomerate, the Cubana Groups, to Umuogali village in Oba to cater for residential electricity needs and ease the hardship faced by households in the area.
Speaking on the broader objective of the intervention, Iyiegbu noted that the electrification projects were designed not only to restore power supply but also to stimulate economic activities, enhance security, improve learning conditions in schools and generally uplift the standard of living of the people.
According to him, the initiative aligns with the vision of Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s administration under the Public, Private and Community Partnership (PPCP) framework, which encourages private sector participation in community development.
In his words, the Cubana Group donated the transformers in support of what Governor Soludo, is doing through the Public, Private and Community Partnership; adding that this is primarily about complementing government efforts and ensuring that people feel the impact of development directly.
Ike Cubana expressed optimism that with the installation of the transformers, Aborji village and its environs would begin to enjoy stable electricity supply within a short period. He further revealed that technical processes were already underway to ensure timely connection of the new transformers.
The young philanthropist and vibrant politician also used the occasion to recall other infrastructural contributions previously made by the Cubana Group to Oba community, including the construction and tarring of about eight kilometres of roads across different parts of the town. He stressed that such projects were executed quietly without noise, as the group does not believe in drawing attention to acts of service to humanity.
Reacting to the insinuations that the donations might be politically motivated, Hon. Iyiegbu vehemently dismissed such claims, insisting that philanthropy has always been a defining identity of the Cubana Group even long before his joining of partisan politics.
He explained that the group’s passion for community service was deeply rooted in family values, noting that their father, who was a school principal, and their mother, who was a headmistress, were known for their contributions to education and community development.
According to him, those values shaped their worldview and continue to guide the group’s interventions across different sectors, particularly in education, infrastructure and social welfare.
Iyiegbu maintained that the electrification of Oba community was purely driven by compassion and a desire to ease the suffering of the people, further stressing that access to electricity is a basic necessity that directly affects productivity, safety and quality of life.
He further re-assured the community of the Cubana Group’s commitment to continued support for development-oriented initiatives that have direct impact on the people, even as he also called on other well-meaning individuals and corporate bodies to partner with government and communities in addressing pressing infrastructural needs in any identified areas and critical sectors.
More photos from the scene:
