No fewer than one thousand widows cutting across three local councils of Rivers State have benefitted from a Christmas palliatives distribution by the Tekena ThankGod Ikpaki Foundation.
The palliatives distribution cut across the nine clans of Kirikese nation in Ogu/Bolo, Okrika and parts of Port Harcourt City Local Councils.
Speaking at the outreach , Executive Director of the Foundation, Tekena ThankGod Ikpaki, who is also the chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) Rivers State branch, said the three days programme was designed to address the urgent needs of widows and other vulnerable persons, especially at a time when many were struggling to survive.
He said his love for charity especially helping widows spurred him to carryout the empowerment. He also said that his actions were guided by biblical principles that givers never lacks.
”It’s my love for people that has encouraged me to do what I’m doing here today. What I’m doing today is my heartbeat and I do it everyday. Empowerment of widows is what I do always. But today we are expanding to ensure that every clan ranging from Ogu, Bolo, Isaka, Ele, Ibaka, Ogbogbo, Abuloma and all of the nine clans of Okrika is represented, ” Ikpaki said.
Tekena Ikpaki who said his foundation has been carrying out such charities for over twenty years now, urged well-meaning individuals to share love and kindness in whatever measure God has blessed them, stressing that Christmas celebration is incomplete without genuine care for one another.
”Every time you give, you have simply opened a channel to receive, ” he stated.
One of the beneficiaries, Tamunoboma Aberemieka, thanked the Foundation for sponsoring the cataract surgery that restored her sight after years of blindness, after the CEO, Tekena Ikpaki spotted her during a previous widows’ outreach.
Another beneficiary, Mrs Gladys Miebaka from Isaka Community expressed excitement that the gesture has lifted enormous burdens off her shoulders this Christmas season.
”I’m so grateful for him putting smiles on the faces of widows with this gift items. I know he has been doing this and this time around he made it bigger. My prayer for him is that God keep providing for him to reach out to more widows, ” Miebaka prayed.
Our correspondent reports that items distributed includes rice, beans, oil, chicken, onions, wrappers and other items.
