News

How Communities Can Assess Philanthropic Support

Published

2 years ago

January 4, 2024

Nigerian communities have been advised on how best to assess philanthropic support from those who could help their communities in terms of development and assistance to the indigents.

Disclosing the modalities, a microbiologist, medical laboratory scientist and physician, Dr. John Kwubiri Nwadinobi, said the act of giving is spiritual and cannot be started at old age.

Nwadinobi, who is also an Assistant and Doctor of Healthcare Administration, stated this in his Amaogwugwu community at the weekend after a medical outreach organized by the Amaogwugwu Federated Union President General, Elder Kelechi Uwaoma, during which he made a presentation and donated medical equipment and medicine worth several millions of naira, used to treat indigent patients who could not afford medications.

The modalities to access philanthropic support, according to him, include the assessment of the spirit of giving, the possession of love for his community and community people, and participation in community events.

Others, he said, are the ability to identify the needs of his community, the ability to identify the needs of the needy and the vulnerable in the community to assist them, the ability to raise up and train youths for future leadership roles, his or her empowerment history and training of community members, as well as respect for elders and constituted community authorities.

He said, “If you want to have a taste of what a human being is, you have to check on what he is doing when people are not watching, his conduct when he knows that people are not watching what he is doing and what he is doing without expectation of rewards and benefits.”

He noted that people do what they want to do and there is a difference between having and having the spirit to spend on their communities, stating, “Some people are very rich, but they don’t have the spirit for community service, which is in the blood.

“You don’t learn it in the old age. I, from my youth, have been in community service, from primary school through secondary school to my university days, without expecting anything in reward and my service is apolitical.”

He urged the rich not to wait on the government to improve upon the lives of their community people, charging them to instead provide for their various communities.

Earlier in the week while addressing the media after the medical outreach, where more than 300 patients were treated, the health guru disclosed, “I have donated mattresses, IV fluid hangers, walkers, clutches, nebulizing machines, blood pressure machines, ulcer symmetry, glucometer, nebulizers and nebulizing solution, medicines for hypertension, diabetes, antibiotics for bladder infection and upper respiratory infection, stem medications for people suffering from arthritis, and a whole lots of other medications, including flagyl and metronidazole.”

As a result therefore, his Amaogwugwu people appreciated his efforts because, the medical mission and outreach that he has been conducting in his village spanned over 20 years.

He said that he has been doing that “because, I love community service and I believe in giving back to the society. Whatever we are today, God made it possible for us to be what we are and the best thing for us to do is to give back to those people who do not have the opportunity to be where we are”.

The health officer who also runs Nwadinobi Foundation, informed, “Since 2005, I have been conducting medical outreach under my person, Dr. John K. Nwadinobi. I have been giving medication that last up to six months for patients, not minding where they come from.

“Even though Amaogwugwu is the target, whoever walks in, gets equal treatment. So. we don’t discriminate. Our services are, in spite of class and geography, inclusive of humanity and the love of God.

“The medical outreach is the normal thing I have been doing over the years and has nothing to do with the low key memorial service I held for my mother few days ago. On behalf of my late mum, I am also building a modern toilet facility for our local church and it will consist of water system, male and female sections in a standard form.

“I have also been sponsoring Amaogwugwu Unity Sports competition since 1998, that is 25 years of sponsoring men and women football competition as well as 100, 200 and 400 metres race and early morning marathon, with gold and silver medals. This year’s winners are going to be well compensated and we are expanding the scope to achieve more in terms of unity and development of our community.”

News

Lagos Man Killed In Fight, Suspect Arrested

Published

1 hour ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a man, Ebuka Adindu, for allegedly stabbing Sodiq Ibrahim to death during a violent confrontation in the Mandillas area of Lagos on Wednesday.

A social media user, @JackFleet, who first raised the alarm on X.com, wrote, “There’s a fracas going on presently in Lagos Island, Mandillas to be precise.

“Two guys were fighting, and it resulted in the death of one of them. Right now, street urchins have taken the law into their hands, stabbing innocent people on the street.”

Reacting to the post, the command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, dismissed the claim that miscreants had taken over the area.

“Your claim of street urchins taking over the street is false. Please do not cause unnecessary panic. DPOs Lion Building and Ebute-Ero are currently on the ground with their men, maintaining the restored peace.

“Also, the suspect has been arrested and is in custody for further necessary actions,” Hundeyin stated in a post on Wednesday.

In a follow-up message to PUNCH Metro on Wednesday, Hundeyin clarified that the incident was not a tribal clash, as was being speculated.

“The Lagos State Police Command hereby wishes to inform the general public that there was no tribal clash or disturbance between any ethnic groups and others inside Balogun Market today.

“There was an incident of a free-for-all between some hoodlums and miscreants in the Balogun Market in the early hours of today at around 11 am.

“During the fight, one Ebuka Adindu from Abia State stabbed one Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State to death, and the said Ebuka Adindu in turn stabbed himself on the shoulder and became unconscious.

“He is currently under arrest in the hospital, where he is being treated. Investigation into the matter will be concluded, and he will be prosecuted after he has been discharged from the hospital,” Hundeyin explained.

The police stressed that no innocent lives were lost, no other injuries were recorded, and no goods or property in the market was destroyed.

The statement read, “The Lagos State Police Command wishes to reiterate that the incident is not a tribal clash but purely between miscreants and hoodlums around the Balogun Market. Normalcy has been restored.

“Marketers and the general public on the Island and other parts of Lagos State are encouraged to go about their businesses and other lawful endeavours without fear or apprehension.”

Hundeyin, quoting the state Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, called on Lagos State residents “to remain law-abiding and cooperate with the police command to sustain existing peace in the state and not to spread fear in the mind of the public, as Lagos is generally peaceful.”

News

JUST IN: NLC Defies Edo Assembly Resolution, Inaugurates Factional Caretaker Committee

Published

2 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has inaugurated Professor Monday Igbafen as Caretaker Committee Chairman of the Edo State Council despite resistance from the state House of Assembly.

This particular faction is supported by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajero, while the Edo State government is in support of the Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide-led faction.

The swearing-i was initially slated to take place at the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House in Benin City on Thursday, but the venue was locked and secured, apparently in a bid to block the event from taking place.

This came two days after the state House of Assembly passed a resolution urging the NLC to suspend the inauguration and instead recognize Comrade Bernard Joman Egwakhide as the rightful leader of the union in Edo.

In spite of this, the NLC delegation from the national secretariat, led by Comrade Oluwole Adeleye Sunday, pressed on with their plans.

The group initially moved to the ASUU Secretariat within the Ugbowo campus of the University of Benin, however, after information about that location was leaked, the team quickly relocated.

The inauguration was eventually conducted at an undisclosed venue under tight security.

Speaking during the ceremony, Comrade Oluwole charged the newly constituted faction to restore unity within the state chapter.

“You are to resolve all contending issues and work towards electing new executives,” he said.

In his acceptance remarks, Professor Igbafen pledged to mend divisions within the Edo NLC, assuring stakeholders of a renewed focus on solidarity and internal cohesion.

At NLC Secretariat, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force sealed off the Edo State secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress otherwise known as the Adams Oshiomhole Labour House.

Similarly, the main gate of the University of Benin was beefed up with police personnel.

Some suspected thugs were also seen loitering around the secretariat.

A police Armoured Personnel Carrier was deployed to the NLC secretariat,
while heavy security at the Labour House and the UNIBEN main gate were present.

Some NLC leaders from neighbouring states, who were scheduled to attend the inauguration, at the Labour House, expressed regret that they could not access the secretariat.

Speaking, Comrade Augustine Igben from the Maritime Workers Union, said he was embarrassed when he was not allowed entry into the Edo Labour House.

“I felt embarrassed about the whole thing. How can the police barricade the Labour House when there is no war. It is a Labour issue. They should allow Labour to settle the issues themselves.” He said.

News

Access Holdings Names New GMD/CEO

Published

2 hours ago

August 28, 2025

Editor

Access Holdings Plc has appointed Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval.

The announcement, contained in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, comes hours after Roosevelt Ogbonna resigned from the company’s board in compliance with new corporate governance rules issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Ike takes over from Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has steered the company in acting capacity for the past 18 months after the death of former Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, in 2024.

She will now return to her role as Executive Director, Business Support.

According to the statement, Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, said Ike’s appointment signals a new phase for the group.

He said, “We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike as we move forward. At the same time, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Ms. Bolaji Agbede.

“Her outstanding contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable, and we appreciate her dedication in navigating the Company through challenges and opportunities. While regulatory requirements necessitate this change, we are grateful for the strong foundation that has been laid.”

Under Agbede’s leadership, the company achieved major milestones, including workforce stability, the execution of a N351bn rights issue, and the seamless hosting of two annual general meetings.

Speaking on the appointment, Ike said, “I am honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and excited to work alongside the talented team at Access Holdings.

“I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders and stakeholders.”

Ike, a graduate of the University of Lagos and Best Graduating Student in Accounting in 1988, is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.

He is also a certified IFRS expert.

With over 30 years’ experience in banking and financial services, Ike previously spent a decade at Access Bank, rising to General Manager before serving as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank from 2020 to 2022, where he introduced VULTe, the bank’s award-winning digital platform.