By Godwin Chukwumaechi, Port Harcourt
Executive Director of Corporate Services in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, has appealed to organisations and well-meaning individuals to extend a hand of fellowship the underprivileged in the society.
Abegunde said this when NDDC top officials, including the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye and other commission’s directors, visited the Home for the Elderly, run by the Catholic Church in Port Harcourt.
The visit, which was part of the activities marking Hon Abegunde’s 70th birthday, witnessed the donation of various food items to the home to support the vulnerable and improve the lives of elderly citizens.
Abegunde expressed gratitude to God for allowing him to serve humanity as the Executive Director of Corporate Services at the NDDC and prayed for blessings for the elderly people in the society. He encouraged privileged individuals and corporate organisations to always give a helping hand to those in need.
In his remarks, the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, underlined the need for organisations to support the church in caring for the elderly. “We must create schemes to help the weak and fend for the poor,” he said.
Iyaye commended Hon. Abegunde for his outstanding contributions to public service, community development, and the advancement of good governance describing him as a humanist whose dedication and compassion have positively impacted countless lives across the Niger Delta.
The NDDC team presented the Home of the Elderly with many bags of rice, beans, tubers of yam, cartons of noodles, toiletries, and an unspecified amount of cash.
Receiving the items, the home’s patron, Rev. Sister Mary Jane Raphael, thanked the NDDC team for the gesture, saying it would significantly address some of their challenges in feeding the elderly people in the facility.
She observed: “I am pleased that the NDDC management is here today to support us. We appeal to the Commission to help us with some basic infrastructure.
Earlier in a thanksgiving service, the Representative of Rivers State on the NDDC Board, Chief Tony Okocha, said Hon. Abegunde’s life “has been a testament to resilience, purposeful leadership, and unwavering commitment to societal growth.”
Okocha highlighted Abegunde’s legacy of philanthropy, emphasizing his tireless efforts to uplift the less privileged through various initiatives.
He stated: “As we celebrate Abegunde, we are reminded of his profound impact and enduring legacy of service. Hon. Abegunde exemplifies integrity, excellence, and selfless devotion to humanity. His journey inspires generations to emulate the virtues of compassion and leadership.”
