01/11/2022
KPAKPANDO FOUNDATION EMPOWERS THOUSANDS OF DISABLE TO CELEBRATE IZUNASO BIRTHDAY
—KELVIN NWAKA
It was pomp and pageantry at Concorde Hotel Owerri this past Sunday (October 30th, 2022), as KPAKPANDO FOUNDATION rained gifts of various types on members of disable community in Imo State in celebration of 56th Birthday Anniversary of its Chairman/Founder, Distinguished Sen. Osita Bonaventure Izunaso (OFR); and commemoration of 17th Anniversary of the establishment of the Foundation.
The colorful event was kicked-off with opening prayers/presentation of kolanut and brief welcome address by the Chairman Central Planning Committee of the ocassion, who is also the Coordinator of the Grow Orlu Project, Prince Nixon Okwara.
The Director General of Kpakpando Foundation, Mrs. Pat John-Oseh took her turn to make wonderful presentation on the Journey So Far regarding the organization. According to her, Kpakpando Foundation in the last 17 years of its existence, despite numerous challenges, has recorded tremendous achievements in the service of humanity through its various empowerment programs that have benefitted tens of thousands of person with disabilities, such as scholarship grants, bursaries, provision of employment opportunities, donations of wheel chairs, clutches, sewing machines, grinding mills with petrol engines, hairdriers, generator sets, motorcycles, to mention but a few.
A special lecture, titled: "KPAKPANDO—THE IGBO PHILOSOPHY OF IHE", delivered by a renowned erudite scholar, Rev. Fr. Prof. P.A Ogbonna (Dean Student Affairs, IMSU) delighted the audience.
Dignitaries, including the Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emeka Nduka, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disability (NCPWD), Mr. James David Lalu, HRH Eze Thomas Obiefule of Umudioka Ancient Kingdom among others, took their turn to pour encomiums on the person of Distinguished Senator Osita Izunaso.
Mr. James David Lalu in his submission, poured benevolent sentiments on the person of Senator Izunaso, insisting that the domestication of Bill of Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the National Assembly was a pet project of Izunaso which the President, Muhammadu Buhari eventually signed into law in 2019, which subsequently birthed the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities. Continuing, Mr. Lalu expressed gratitude to the person of Izunaso, revealing that it was by his special recommendation to Mr. President that made his appointment as the Executive Secretary of that Commission possible. In conclusion, Mr. Lalu also challenged the Imo State Government especially the State House of Assembly to initiate the process to domesticate the Disability Law to pave way for the creation of Commission for Persons with Disabilities in Imo State.
In his speech, the Birthday Celebrant, Chief Osita Izunaso (OFR)—who is also the All Progressive Candidate for the Imo West Senatorial Seat in the upcoming 2023 general election—saluted the mammoth crowd that came from all corners of the state and beyond to honor him on his special day. Senator Izunaso specifically thanked the Special Citizens of the State whose genuine support and collaboration has kept the Kpakpando Foundation up and doing in the last 17 years.
Senator Izunaso also expressed gratitude and appreciation to all who contributed in one way or the other to the success of the ocassion.
Senator Izunaso responding to the earlier submission of the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, who okayed the suggestions of Mr. Lalu about the need to domesticate the Disability Bill in the State, let the cat out of the bag by informing the gathering that His Excellency Sen. Hope Uzodimma has already bought into the project and would in the coming few months ( if not weeks), send an executive bill to the Imo State House of Assembly for legislative attention.
Highlights of the occasion included cutting of birthday cake by the celebrant and presentations of empowerment items such as hundreds of wheel chairs, sewing machines, gas cookers, petrol driven grinding machines, hair dryers, provisions and cash rewards to members of disable community, Imo State Chapter.
Some of the dignitaries who grace the ocassion ( in no particular order) included: Speaker Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emeka Nduka, Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Amara Anyanwu, Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Rex Anunobi,(Sokom, the Executive Secretary, National Commission for Persons With Disability (NCPWD), Mr. James David Lalu, Commissioner for Labour, Employment and Productivity, Chief Ford Ozumba, APC Candidate for the 2023 Imo East Senatorial District election & M/D CEO ABM GLOBAL GROUP, Prince Alex Mbata, SOLADs of Oguta, Ohaji/Egbema, Oru East, and Oru West, Nkwere LGAs, APC Candidate for the 2023 Ohaji/Egbema-Oguta-Oru West House of Reps election, Hon. Eugene Dibagwu, Director General Kpakpando Foundation, Mrs. Pat John-Oseh, Imo State Accountant General, Mr. Linus Okafor, the Lion of Oil Kingdom Prince Dr. Henry Okafor, Igirigi of Oloshi Hon. Gideon Meffor, immediate past MD Adapalm, Hon. Goddy Esom Obodo, APC Candidate for 2023 Oguta State Assembly election, Hon. Engr. Gilbert Nwosu, Former Imo State Commissioner and Proprietor Divine Truimph School Umuguma, Hon. Ichie Mbanaso, S.A Imo State Governor on Print Media, Hon. Modestus Nwamkpa, Traditional Rulers of Ozara, Ohakpu, and Umudioka communities, and other dignitaries too numerous to mention.
