PASTOR IDOWU OKEZE : THE SHINING LIGHT (UKPE) OF IGBUZO By: Ike Philip Abiagom

Pastor Idowu Okeze

In my career as a Public Affairs Commentator and a Publisher, I have discovered that one of the hardest things to do is writing about people because of the intricacies involved and the obvious misconceptions associated with it. But, I cannot stop writing about people especially public-spirited individuals for obvious reasons too. I am an activist with a special interest in the vulnerable groups amongst us and so I am naturally attracted to those given to a life of charity and philanthropy. So, it is an obligation of a sort for me to write about individuals whose lives and activities are in sync with my pro-life philosophy.

Clearly, public discourse is not just about criticisms and satire but about enlightenment and that includes throwing searchlights on our heroes as well. Mentoring and coaching as motivational activities essentially involves mirroring and modeling the lives of great achievers. It is motivational and inspirational to do so. It is really encouraging to zoom in on the life and accomplishments of great personalities. One of my friends and close confidant told me that he draws inspiration from reading biographies of great men. Thus, cerebrating achievers is one of the most veritable ways of asking the people especially the youth to appreciate achievement and strive hard to achieve greatness.

At present, Nigeria is embroiled in a political cum security crisis. The citizens are forlorn, disillusioned and dispirited. As a nation, it seems all hope of survival is lost. The only hope for the nation is to look inwards and latch in on our areas of strength. And it is indeed cheery to think and imagine that all hope is not lost for the nation when we review the activities of great men and patriotic individuals among us who have worked assiduously to touch lives and lift many out of poverty by uncommon philanthropic gestures.
So, today, my literary radar is on Pastor Idowu Daniel Chukwudi Okeze. My interest in the Igbuzo Pastor is not just because I know him from close quarters having had the rare opportunity of working for him or because I am an Igbuzo indigene but because his life as an accomplished philanthropist, selfless Nigerian and an accomplished icon is something to celebrate.

Without doubt, Pastor Idowu Okeze needs no introduction in the social circles in Igbuzo, Oshimili North and beyond. Pastor Idowu Okeze has left his footprints in the sand of time through his innumerable people-oriented programs and project . He has love for humanity and thus his well-intentioned act of philanthropy goes beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Pastor Idowu Okeze has provided his people from Igbuzo in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State with several essential amenities such as water, Transformers, Solar light and roads lacking in particular areas in his community. He single-handedly sponsored the drilling of boreholes at various locations in Igbuzo-Oshimili North local government areas and went further to resuscitate some damage roads in Igbuzo.

Pastor Idowu Okeze also pays hospital bills for individuals, establishes businesses and sponsors people in various vocational training like plumbing, hairdressing, tailoring, motor parts dealership, solar panels and CCTV installation. Most of the beneficiaries are Youths, widows and orphans. He has empowered both Igbuzo indigens and non-indigenes with over two thousand tricycles (KEKE) for commercial use.

Pastor Idowu Okeze sponsored the enrollment of 1000 indigent and vulnerable Ibusa indigenes into the informal sector category of the Health scheme of Delta State Contributory Health Commission insurance premium by paying #7000 (Seven Thousand Naira Only) per person and the One thousand persons in Ibusa were given access health care card for one full year, free of charge. This is the first of its kind where indigent enrollees who are vulnerable are adopted by a philanthropist with passion to save life.

Silently and diligently, with passion, he started realizing and fulfilling his dream for his people in earnest. He achieved all this without publicity and social media engagements.

Okeze, a silent achiever, organized and coordinated a group of his people especially the peasant farmers to give them all farming implements to ease their farming season. His benevolence didn’t stop there. Knowing the benefits of education, as an Educated person, he came up with an ideology that no child in Igbuzo should be left behind in terms of basic education. He solely embarked on awards of various scholarships to students in primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions.

His kind-hearted nature never ignores the less privileged. With his belief that no one from Igbuzo and Oshimili North should go to bed hungry, with dignity, he provided palliatives of all kinds, distributing food items to widows.

I have learnt that wealth is nothing without helping people; that touching lives through acts of charity and philanthropy is true greatness. Nigerians should learn from the lives of great men like Pastor Idowu Okeze eschew bitterness, mutual recrimination and rancor that is the only way to build the nation of our dream. “Upkechukwu Ibusa”, A great son of Igbuzo.

Pastor Idowu Okeze is popularly called by name “Upkechukwu Ibusa”, which is testimonial, and a clear proof of the true nature of this glorious gentleman who is so handsome both in the flesh and in his heart. You have certainly earned your place in history! “Upkechukwu Ibusa”, A great son of Igbuzo.