Mr. Okoye Francis Chidozie hails from Abatete in Idemili North
Local Government Area of Anambra State. A Graduate of Electrical
Electronics Engineering, Anambra State University Uli; Posted to OFFA
Grammar School, OFFA Kwara State for his Compulsory National Youth
Service Corps (NYSC) Program.
Piqued by the absence of some
social facilities and the passion to be outstanding and truly fulfill
the fundamental purpose of his service year, he decided to write his
name in gold and leave his footprints in the sands of time with laudable
CDS Projects which had direct impact on the entire community like
Construction of a Motorized Bore Hole at Owode market Offa.
Renovation of NYSC Building (Secretariat) Offa Local Government.
Construction of 20ft/6ft Directional Bill Board that bears “welcome to Owode market Offa”.
Construction of Executive Peacock Bird (Okin bird) at Owode market Police Traffic Junction.
Donation of 2000 writing materials to six selected primary schools in Offa Local Government.
Donation one hundred pieces of treated Mosquito nets to one hundred families in Offa rural area
(Net-A-Child Project).
Donation of one hundred Pairs of school sandals to five selected Primary schools in Offa.
Donation of one hundred WAEC Recommended Novels (blind trust) and one
hundred Pens to one hundred (100) SS1 students in Offa Grammar School
(his PPA) that performed excellently (85 above) in the computer studies
examination he taught in seven classes.
Organized Quiz Competition Among all NYSC CDS Groups in Offa LGA at Okin Fm Radio Station Offa.
Trained Less Privileged Mothers in Offa on Skills Acquisition, on how
to Bake Cake, Chin-Chin, Donut, Fish Roll, Egg Roll, Meat Pea &
Buns; and Empowered them with Coal Pot, Baking Flower and a Bottle of
Vegetable Oil (One For Each Person).
Enumerated one hundred Families in Offa LGA, through MDG United Nations “My World Global Survey”.
This gesture attracted an Award of Excellency and a Cash Reward of N50,
000 to Corper Francis, From OFFA Local Government. Recommendation
Letters from OFFA Descendant Union, His Royal Majesty, the Olofa of
Offa, Owode Market Traders Association, OFFA Grammar School, Igbo
Community Association Offa and OFFA Local Government Secretariat.
Commendations, from Community Leaders, Government Agencies, Corporate
Organizations around and Officials of the NYSC.
Those present at the
Commissioning were full of praises to the 25-Year-old Corper because he
has demonstrated that even amid a generation that is selfish, greedy
with common trait of a Me-First attitude, there are some individual who
may not occupy any political or economic office but determined to make
use of their personal resources to put smiles on the faces of people
they encounter or even people in any environment they find themselves.
Such may not be born with a silver spoon in their mouth, but an innate
quality to impact positively on the lives of people coupled with
determination and focus that drives them on.
Against this backdrop, the initiatives of Mr. Francis Okoye, With Registration Number KW/12B/0069 is worth considering.
Single-handedly, he constructed a Motorized BoreHole, Renovated NYSC
Building, Constructed a Directional Bill Board and Constructed an
Executive Peacock Bird (Okin bird) at Owode market Traffic Junction,
which is seen as the symbol and Pride of Offa Kingdom, etc.
On
the circumstance that prompted him to construct the Motorized BoreHole,
he said: “Since the time immemorial, Owode Market traders have suffered
serious pains because of Lack of water. The Borehole Constructed by the
Federal and Local Government inside the market has stopped working for a
very long time.
He described to Construct the Motorized
BoreHole because he want to prevent market traders, women and children
from drinking the available “Water Well” inside the Market, which poses a
lot of health challenges due to impurities.
Francis added: “I
never believed I can achieve a Project as big as this, because I don’t
have a Rich Father, Friends or Uncle who can support in issues of this
magnitude. My Dad is a Retired Head-Master and my Mum, a Civil Servant
at State Level. My NYSC Allowance is not even enough to pay my bills,
and Meeting Sponsors in Offa has been a very difficult task. In-fact,
it’s only God that has made this Project possible.
On
Renovation of NYSC Building, he said, “Home is a place of comport and a
place where strategic plans are made. As Corps Members, we can’t keep
advocating for development and Change in our host community when our
home is not in order. The building (NYSC Secretariat) is out of comfort.
The Rooms, Zinc, Toilet, Doors and Windows needs total Rehabilitation
and Renovation. My taking up this Project is to provide enabling
environment for Corps Member and NYSC Officers in Offa to carryout their
duties effectively. After the Renovation, I Hoisted Nigeria and NYSC
Flag and Elected a Parade Basement.
On Construction of a Bill
Board, he said, “the need for Directional Bill Board to complement and
promote the efficiency of this great market (Owode market) was also seen
as another challenge by the market traders”. Embanking on this project
was another beautiful thing that happened in my life, during my service
year, and I will forever remain grateful to God, for this Privilege
given to me through NYSC.
On Peacock Construction, he said,
“Culture, is people’s way of life. In Offa, the Peacock Bird is seen as
the pride and symbol of Offa land, and as such, constructing this bird
at a strategic point, will further promote its cultural essence in Offa.
I took up this Project because I have come to believe in the culture
and beauty of Offa Land.
On Donation of 100 pieces of Treated
Mosquito nets, he said: As the President of MDG CDS Group; This Project
is in line with MDG Goal 6: “Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other
disease”. Having lived here for months, I realized that Mosquitoes breed
heavily here, I was able to cope with the help of treated Mosquito
Nets, I looked at those leaving in mud and thatched houses and wondered
how they were coping.
In that effect, I embarked on the search
for treated mosquito nets which I distributed to One Hundred House Hold
in GBOSUN/OGBONDOKO COMMUNITY, OFFA.
More to this, due to his
passion to help the Less Privileged Ones in the Community, he Donated
2000 writing materials to six selected Primary Schools in Offa, Donated
one hundred Pairs of school sandals to five selected primary schools in
Offa and Donated 100 WAEC Recommended Novels (blind trust) and 100 Pens
to 100 SS1 students in OGS (His PPA) that Performed Excellently (85
above) in the computer studies examination he taught in seven classes.
On these Projects he said, “This Projects is in line with MDG Goal 2,
which target is to ensure that by 2015, children everywhere will be able
to complete a full course of Primary Schooling everywhere. My aim of
taken up this Project is to Support and Encourage Less Privileged
Primary school children in achieving Universal Primary Education.
On how he Organized ‘On Air’ Quiz Competition for Corpers, Mr. Francis
said “I embarked on this Project in collaboration with Offa Local Govt.
Inspector and Okin FM Radio Station OFFA, to Promote the Value and
Objective of NYSC in Offa and Kwara State at large, by asking the
contestants questions about NYSC Scheme. After the Competition, the
winners where presented with an Award of honour.
Mr. Francis also enumerated 100 families in Offa LGA, through MDG
United Nations “My World Global Survey” and Trained Less Privileged
Mothers in Offa on Skills Acquisition, on how to Bake Cake, Chin-Chin,
Donut, Fish Roll, Egg Roll, Meat Pea & Buns; and Empowered them with
Coal Pot, Baking Flower and a Bottle of Vegetable Oil. In his words,
“this Projects is in line with MDG Goal 1, which target is to Halve
between 1990 and 2015 the proportion of people who suffer from hunger
and Poverty” My aim of taking up this project is to train and Empower
Less Privileged Mothers On skills Acquisition. By the Special Grace of
God the aim of this Project was actualized and the mothers are now in
the field exhibiting the skills they acquired from the training and with
the help of my little empowerment, they where able to start up a small
scale business.
This noble idea of a selfless youth should be
encouraged with not just Verbal Commendations but with State, National
and International Awards. The time, money and energy this Second Class
Upper Degree (Elect Elect Eng.) holder from Anambra State University Uli
could have been channeled into personal programs or that which will
benefit his nuclear and extended families or even better him lots in
lives but for his humane nature, decided to develop a community where he
spent just 11 to 12 months.
The communities that are
benefiting from these projects should as matters of necessity encourage
him with a Traditional Title that will encourage others to do same.
He spoke with the Press and promised never to give up in rendering
social services to people wherever he goes, not minding the inherent
challenges. He advised other youths to be selfless and always contribute
their quota to the development of their communities and the nation
alike.
Without being Preemptive, we are optimistic that Alhaji
Abdulfatah Ahmen, the Executive Governor of Kwara State and the
Presidency will honour this Hard Working Man for his heroic and
outstanding projects.
He appreciated his Sponsors, Contributors
and Advisers. Alh. Tajudeen Owoyemi, Alh. Asisi Bukoye, Mrs. Adesoye,
Justice Adegbite, Chief Ayotunde Raji, Mr. Kola Oyawoye, Dr Tunji
Olagunju, Barr. Wahab Shetti, Alh. Lola Ashiru, Mr. R.O Olagunju, OFFA
Descendant Union (ODU), The Sole Administrator OFFA LGA, Igbo Community
Association, Anambra Progressive Association, Members and Youths of
Secret Heart Church Ijagbo & St Cyprian Parish Offa, Management and
Staff of OKIN FM Radio Station, Rv. Father Pendo Lawani, Rv. Father
Raphael, Rv. Father Chris Adebiye, Bro. Samuel Ezeh and Sis. Chinwe.
He also appreciated the people that guided and directed him all through
his stay in Kwara State. In his words, “They made me feel at home even
when am not home”. He is so grateful to the Management and Staff of NYSC
Secretariat Ilorin, most especially, His Platoon Officer- Pastor
Olodude H.O; OFFA Local Government Assistant Inspectors- Mr. Ajikobi and
Mrs. Aremu F.O; OFFA Local Government Inspector- Mrs. Oyinloye J.G; CDS
MDG Schedule Officer- Mrs. Alabi; Zonal Inspector (Daddy) - Mr.
Owolabi; Camp Director- Miss. R.K Alabi; HOD SAED- Mr. Olugbodi; and
most especially, the Big MAMA, the NYSC State Coordinator- Ezinne Ngozi
Angela Miguel Ezekwe.
Finally, he remained indebted to his
parents Chief and Mrs. Christopher Okoye, His Siblings Ebele Okoye,
Nkeiruka Okoye, Somtochukwu Okoye and Ogechukwu Okoye for their endless
Love, Prayers and Encouragement.”
