Avutu in Obowo Local Government Area of Imo State was agog on Sunday January 1,2022,as Peter and Theresa Foundation started the year on a good note through putting smiles on the faces of Avutu indigenes by offering them scholarship and free interest loan.
Speaking at the epoch making event held at Agunaeke Town Hall, Nkwo Agunaeke Obowo, the Chairman of the scholarship committee Hon Gabriel Emejamara, thanked Peter and Theresa Foundation powered by Chief Barr. Paschal, Engr. Emenike and Dr Chisom Nwokocha (the Nwokocha giants) for the gesture.
He disclosed that 35 students were selected across Avutu for the scholarship award and that each of the students are to receive fifty thousand naira to support their academic pursuit.
The former Transition Committee Chairman of Obowo L.G.A, further hinted that the Foundation gave birth to a new programme called “Business Support “which according to him will provide business support free interest loans to business men and women from the community.
Addressing guests and beneficiaries at the event, the Head of the Foundation Chief Barr. Paschal Nwokocha, said that the Foundation was instituted by him and his siblings in honour of their late parent Peter and Theresa Nwokocha, disclosing that the aim of the Foundation is to encourage people pursue their education and expand their businesses, pointing out that they are not doing it because they are rich, rather contributing their quota towards making life better in their community.
He urged the beneficiaries not to use the money to sow seed or pay tithe in their various churches or for other frivolities, rather for their educational pursuit and growth of their businesses.”We have big vision for Avutu, nobody gave us money, What we are doing is from our savings, our prayer is that those given this money will make judicious use of it and not using it to marry a second wife or for Chieftaincy title. We struggled to make this money “Paschal said.
He seemingly warned the beneficiaries of the business support programme not get involved in illicit business, stressing that 2022 will be a better year for Avutu people. He encouraged artisans amongst them and prayed God to bless all of them.
Our correspondent at the event gathered that the free interest loan were given to the beneficiaries based on their business proposal and requests. Some got #500,000 each, while some were 300,000,150,000 and even #70,000,all based on request.
In their separate remarks, Barr.Kenneth Awara, noted that the gesture is unprecedented unusual sacrifice, adding that he has never seen this type of gesture in their community before. He opined that it is only very few people that can make that kind of sacrifice. He urged the beneficiaries to utilize the money and make it useful, stressing that the beginning of success is having an idea and pursuing it.
Contributing, Rev.Fr Dr Bernard Okafor, thanked God for the love that radiates amongst the Nwokocha’s children and urged others to emulate that kind of love. He enjoined the beneficiaries of the scholarship to put efforts in their studies and be useful to themselves.
Hon. Josiah Nduweche thanked the imitators of the Foundation on behalf of Avutu Development Union.
Amongst the beneficiaries that spoke to newsmen were Chibueze Immaculeta a student of the college of Health Port-Harcourt, Oluchi Alozie and Mr.Ugochukwu Madu who were all excited at the wonderful gesture and prayed God to continue to bless the Nwokocha’s in all their endavours.
Journalists gathered that 5 beneficiaries were selected from Dikenodi community, Avutu 14 and Agunaeke 16.
A breakdown of the recipients according to villages, showed that Amaeke got 5, Dikenta 1, Umuada 8, Umuodinma 4, Umuagagba 10.
