Mrs Uche Pedro speaks on the giant strides of Papa Onyeze Foundation.

Eziada Mrs Chidiogo Immaculate Uche pedro has been the moving spirit behind the successes recorded so far by the famous Papa Onyeze Women Empowerment and Relief Foundation (POWER). With her experiences as a community development activist, women’s rights advocate and a marriage coach, she combines these attributes in making sure that the Papa Onyeze Foundation achieves a lot under her care.

Last week, Mrs Uche pedro spoke with Umuaka Times on a wide variety of issues concerning the foundation.

Excerpts:

 What is the name of the foundation you work with?

The name of the organization is Papa Onyeze Women Empowerment and Relief Foundation (POWER).

Which year was the foundation founded?

The foundation was founded in 2022.

Please tell us about the mission and the objectives of the foundation.

Our mission is to provide relief through support to health, education, youths’ empowerment and economic development to improve the quantity of life and communities within our reach.

Which position do you occupy at the foundation?

I am the Executive Secretary-General and the Coordinator of Programs.

Ok that is amazing. Give us a rundown of the achievements of POWER Foundation since her inception.

From its inception, POWER Foundation has brought light to the lives of the people of Obinwanne Umuaka and Umuaka at large. Under educational sector, the foundation has recorded 40 successful educational outreach programs in different schools in Umuaka; the successes include Sancta Maria Secondary School, Daystar International Secondary and Unity Primary School, (to mention but a few).

 Can you please mention specifically what the schools you mentioned received from the foundation?

The Papa Onyeze Foundation has provided materials, teachers and school chairs to the schools I mentioned.

What about the health sector?

Under the health sector, more than 50 medical outreach programs have been successfully carried out in Sancta Maria Hospital Umuaka where men, women, youths and pregnant women received free medical attention, medications, screening and consultations.

Let’s look at youth empowerment. Is there any intervention so far from the foundation?

Under the youths empowerment sector, more than 30 youths have been trained in different professions like catering, haircut, hairdressing, photography, makeup artistry and cosmetics manufacturing.

That is amazing indeed. Where are all these youths today?

They have successfully established their businesses respectively and they are all doing well.

How do the people view the activities of the foundation; are they satisfied?

Yes people are testifying of the foundation’s great impacts in the community; thanking the foundation for her unwavering support to making the world a better place.

Please give details.

In our adult education program, we have recorded a total of 115, adult (male and female graduates) who have been empowered through our adult education program.

What is the current status of the adult education program?

It is doing very well. Currently, we have 35 adult students who are undergoing studies; 15, males and 20 females.

Mrs Uche pedro, you have spoken very well about the success story of the Papa Onyeze Foundation, can you also tell us a little about the challenges facing the foundation?

The insecurity in Umuaka is really affecting our programs as some days, gunshots are heard and that sends fear to the entire community.

Please tell us your next agenda or mission?

Our next mission is to creating a community where people will be able to fend for themselves, and we’re working towards that.

How do you hope to accomplish this task?

We are already doing it; just the way we achieved successes in other programs.

How?

By training the youths and providing relief through support to education, health and economic developments.

Still talking about support, who have been the men and women of substance providing such to the foundation since 2022?

That is a good question sir. In assistance and support, we thank his HRM Eze Justin Ezeala of Obinwanne Umuaka Autonomous Community. Remember it is HRM that founded the foundation and made available its initial take-off grant. Another person who has been supportive is Chief Chukwuma J. Ezeala who is the Executive Director, Silver Lining for the Needy Initiative. This NGO is a working partner with the Papa Onyeze Foundation.

Is that all?

Not at all; the Sancta Maria Hospital Umuaka, and the staffers of Power Foundation. Also Umuaka Times has been supportive by publishing some of our programs without asking for payments.

Ok, before we come to the end of the interview, please tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Mrs Chidiogo Immaculate Uche pedro.

Is that all?

No. (General laughter) I am a native of   Umuezealaku village in Obinwanne Umuaka Autonomous Community, Njaba LGA Imo state.

Is there any other position you occupy in Obinwanne?

I am currently working as the secretary general, Obinwanne Umuaka women’s wing. I’m married with 5 kids and I am a marriage coach and a community development activist.

Mrs Uche pedro, thank you very much for your time and Umuaka Times wishes you excellence in your selfless services to humanity.

Thank you sir.