Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is a vast, multi-community border town between Ebonyi and Abia States and parts of Enugu State. It is dominantly an agrarian community but was highly reputed for pottery art, which thrived as both communal craft, rich economic endeavour and booming trade for the people from the ancient times to late 1990s when it receded in economic value.
Ishiagu has produced many prominent persons in various spheres of endeavours, including politics. It is the hometown of the pioneer Senate President following Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 and the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.
Over the years, the people, through some of her illustrious sons, have complemented the government’s rare interventions with regular individual philanthropy towards ensuring that economic riches are spread to all members of the community and beyond. This they have continued to achieve through various forms of self sponsored Empowerment programmes aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and general welfare of the majority of the community people.
Expectedly, the last one week marking the end of 2024 and the beginning of a new year, 2025 witnessed a galore of empowerment from some enterprising sons of the community to the people. First was the member representing Ohaozara, Onicha and Ivo Federal Constituency, Hon. Nkemkamma Kama, a son of the town, who spread his empowerment Programmes of multi-million naira cash and equipment across the constituency. He was followed by another enterprising son of the area and businessman, Gideon Osi, who in addition to his robust scholarship Programme for the youths of the area, sponsored entrepreneurial training and backed up beneficiaries with cash and equipment to become self-reliant, and possibly, employers of labour.
January 2, 2025 will ever remain significant in the minds of the people of the area as a young, budding philanthropist, High Chief Clement Ifeanyi Okorie, joined the league of the community builders as he celebrated the new year with the entire Ishiagu community and flagged-off a N200 million business advancement empowerment for 1,000 members of the community.
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The event, which was akin to a carnival, was executed, on his charity platform: Ifeanyi Clement Okorie Foundation, and attracted notable philanthropists from across the South East of Nigeria, with guests describing it as a remarkable show of generosity and commitment to community development. It was hosted in the philanthropist’s country home, Ogwor, Ishiagu.
Speaking during the event, Okorie announced that the funding initiative aims to alleviate poverty and promote entrepreneurship within the community. Each beneficiary received individual grants of N200,000 aimed at nurturing small businesses that will lead to economic growth and sustainability.
Okorie said: “First and foremost, I want to thank God for giving me the strength, wisdom and capacity to make this empowerment possible. Without God’s guidance and blessing, this initiative could not have been possible. This initiative is more than a gift; it’s not just about giving money, but about transforming lives and creating opportunities for our people.”
While emphasising the importance of self-reliance, he urged beneficiaries to utilise the funds effectively to build sustainable enterprises.
Okorie said: “I implore you to employ this fund effectively to better your lives and those of people around you with courage and purpose. Let us all continue to work together to create a brighter future for ourselves.”
The Chairman of the occasion, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, described Okorie’s empowerment scheme as a significant aspect of the new dawn which has enveloped Ishiagu community, producing lasting fruits of goodness. Chronicling the many empowerment programmes already executed by sons of the community, Anyim proudly stated: “I told our people in 1999 that Ishiagu has entered her day break, and today it is getting increasingly brighter with this network of empowerment from our illustrious sons.” He prayed to God to continue to increase the donors and beneficiaries of the empowerment schemes in greater dimensions.
In a goodwill message, a special guest at the event and the National President of Akuluo Uno United Brothers Association, Chief Mike Duru, admonished all wealthy people to always think home. He explained that the Club is a global union of enterprising young men who share and practically advance the philosophy of bringing their wealth home to develop and positively impact lives in their communities. Duru, the Chairman/CEO, Citygate Group of companies, commended Okorie for the gesture and described him as a worthy ambassador of the group in his community.
Some of the beneficiaries: Rosemary Okoro, a poultry farmer, and Jewel Nkemjika Ike, a cosmetics seller, expressed profound gratitude to the host and donor, Okorie. They said they were surprised at being called as beneficiaries out of the over 7,000 applicants who jostled for the opportunity, pledging to make their benefactor proud by meaningfully multiplying the funds.
Ike stated: “This support is a dream come true for many of us. It will go a long way in boosting our businesses so that we can turn our dreams into reality.”
The empowerment implementation Committee Chairman, Prof. Ifeanyichukwu Iroha, in an interaction with newsmen, said the initiative was borne out of Okorie’s love for his people. He explained that the committee followed a rigorous process to identify eligible beneficiaries.
Iroha said: First of all, we placed an age limit: prospective beneficiaries must be between 25 and 50 years, preferably, someone already in business or those whose businesses are facing some setbacks, to enable them to pick up. We also looked at each person’s business proposal, the kind of trade he/she is engaging in, and what the person intends to achieve with the money as an outcome of the empowerment, among other considerations.”
Iroha, the Dean of Postgraduate Studies at Ebonyi State University, assured that the committee has also set up a monitoring subcommittee to follow the progress of the beneficiaries and make recommendations for further assistance. He said: “We have already employed two persons under salary for one year to monitor the beneficiaries and that’s why we have documented their details for easy identification. We have also set a mechanism whereby, by this time next year, those who are doing well will be empowered the more.”
This initiative of Okorie and other illustrious sons of Ishiagu community underscores the vital role of philanthropy in driving economic empowerment and serving as a catalyst for community transformation. With this commitment to empowering individuals and fostering entrepreneurship, Chief Okorie’s efforts are sure to leave a lasting legacy in Ishiagu community in particular and Ebonyi State in general.
Significantly, all the illustrious sons who have so far demonstrated capacity for philanthropy in the community are close friends who in every interaction have always acknowledged the vital role of Senator Anyim in their journeys of life.
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