THIS weekend, former senator representing one of Nigeria’s most significant senatorial zones, Orlu Imo State Chief Osita Izunaso will be celebrating his 50th birthday. More importantly, the occasion will be used to mark the eleventh year anniversary of Kpakpando Foundation, a non-governmental organization he founded eleven years ago to render assistance to the less privileged in our society.
Since then, he has used the foundation to touch lives, as many indigent students have been offered scholarships; poor traders have been provided with funds and equipment to improve their business, widows and orphans
equally benefitted. Today a sizeable number of them have been rehabilitated and they now contribute to the development of society.
Senator Osita Izunaso was formerly the Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Housing between 2003 and 2007 and later Chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas.
It was during his tenure as the Senate Committee Chairman on Gas that the issue of gas flaring in Nigeria got national and international attention and was addressed. He also used the opportunity to sensitize Nigerians on the abundance of gas in Nigeria, and the need to draw up a comprehensive gas policy.
Of course, his committee led the way by enacting the requisite legislative framework which till today has remained the bedrock on which our gas master plan was designed. Senator Izunaso has continued to bestride Nigeria’s political landscape like a colossus. As the National Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress, he has guaranteed the members and leaders a world class convention, rallies, primaries and screenings that have reduced areas of frictions and litigations among contestants.
Senator Izunaso is a man of many parts, as he has distinguished himself in different areas. As a business man, he has investments within and outside Nigeria with thousands of employees. He also made a mark in the journalism arena about twenty five years ago when he worked with the Satellite newspapers as the Abuja Bureau Chief and editor.
On this auspicious occasion of marking his golden jubilee and eleventh year anniversary of his Kpakpando Foundation, Senator Izunaso has chosen to once more come to the aid of the less privileged, mostly the physically challenged, as well as providing a platform for the renowned Catholic Clergy, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah to deliver a keynote lecture on “Touching Lives”. The essence of the lecture is to draw attention of well-to-do Nigerians on the plight of the less privileged and handicapped among us.
Obviously, this is commendable as it is a departure from the usual atmosphere of merry-making with the rich and mighty clinking wine glasses and drinking to each other’s health and happiness. This is indeed very thoughtful of the Orlu-born Senator, and the rich and powerful among us are enjoined to emulate him as a society can only be truly great when we gauge the level of care and attention which the powerful give to its most vulnerable and the poor.
As Nigerians from all political divides, business moguls, top politicians assemble at the International Conference Centre Abuja this weekend to felicitate with Senator Osita Izunaso, let us reflect on the state of things in Nigeria and support President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC administration in their efforts at repositioning Nigeria as a great and prosperous country. As the APC ‘Change Agenda’ is aimed at restoring the glory of Nigeria, all hands must be on deck to ensure that we avoid derailment.
Senator Izunaso’s decision to use the celebration of his golden jubilee to connect with the less privileged is a lesson in humility, and a paradigm shift as far as the relationship between the rich and the poor in Nigeria is concerned. Perhaps, it can be said that President Buhari’s frugal approach to governance is beginning to yield positive results as even the rich and mighty are for once engaging in some moments of introspection.
Nevertheless, the Kpakpando Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Senator Osita Izunaso has over the last eleven years shown good example by offering hope to the less privileged, indigent students and the handicapped in Nigeria.
It is hoped that Senator Izunaso’s goodwill will signpost a new beginning in our quest to build an egalitarian society where all citizens will share love and care for one another. Going by his antecedents, Senator Izunaso will in the years ahead continue to assist the poor through his foundation, and as he continues to do so, posterity will judge him favourably.
Comments
Post a Comment