By: Ike Philip Abiagom
The Rotary club of Asaba has awarded the founder of Obi Nwaokocha Okeze Foundation(ONOF) Pastor Idowu Okeze with the Rotary Humanitarian Merit Service award.
At a colouful and well-attended event held at the Enotel Hotel and Suites,Asaba, the President of the Rotary Club of Asaba, Rotarian Kola-Balogun Florence Ndenwanka, said Okeze,was honoured with the award because of his sterling and exemplary contributions to the society, through his pet project and charity organisation, the Obi Nwaokocha Okeze Foundation(ONOF).
Speaking during the club’s Installation and Investiture ceremony, Kola-Balogun said at a time when well-placed individual in the society were shying away from helping the less privileged ones that it was comforting to find someone like Okeze championing the move to bridge the bridge between the privileged and the less privileged.
“There is no doubt that Pastor Okeze merits the Rotary Humanitarian Merit Serve award because of his services to the Nigerian community. We are proud to have someone like him in our society and we will always be ready to identify with any of his projects in the future”, said Kola-Balogun.
Kola-Balogun further explained that the award is reserved for people who have helped provide humanitarian services to people in their respective communities. She further added that Pastor Okeze was awarded in recognition of his selfless commitment to rendering humanitarian services and uplifting the standard of living of people in his community and Delta State in general, adding that Okeze has been appointed to lead the Rotary humanitarian service Committee for Rotary District for the 2025–26 Rotary year in recognition of his excellent performance.
The club’s president advised the awardees not to relent in their contributions to humanity and to continue to do their best to support Rotary to build better communities.
Responding after collecting the award, Okeze,who was represented by his personal Aide, Dr Pat Adigwe, said he was humbled with the gesture and promised to remain of serve to the country.
“I am deeply humbled with this award. I was not expecting it. All I am concerned about is to ensure that the needs of the less privileged in our society are met and that is what Obi Nwaokocha Okeze Foundation(ONOF) sets out to do and will continue to do as we seek to cut the big divide that exists between the rich and the poor in our nation”, said Okeze.
He added that “”I wish to express my deep appreciation to all our members, volunteers and youth ambassadors who are working tirelessly behind and on the scene to ensure the success of our humanitarian efforts. Also, I would like to thank the kind-hearted financial donors, who continue to support Obi Nwaokocha Okeze Foundation(ONOF) financially and in kind to help the under-served children, widows and youths in our society. Individuals willing to support Obi Nwaokocha Okeze Foundation(ONOF) can visit our website ”