Chief Ikenna keen to make Akwaeze great
The Chairman/Founder of Idi Ezeani Nzekwubuo Foundation, Chief Sir Ikenna Okafor has expressed his readiness to make Akwaeze Community an education destination.
He was speaking to his people at St. Michael Catholic Church Akwaeze, Anaocha local government area, Anambra state, during the annual get-together of his foundation last December, 2025.
According to him, ” Akwaeze is a small Community in Anaocha, but possess large heart to make indelible mark in academic world. Currently we have over 120 University graduates in different fields, nurtured and trained by Idi Ezeani Nzekwubuo foundation. But we are not resting on this achievement, rather we are looking at 14 years ahead when these graduates will spend and spread their acquired knowledge in transforming Akwaeze into a global brand in education”.
Recalling the history of the Foundation, Sir Okafor, Ide Akwaeze and Eziafakego Nnewi further declared: “This Foundation started after the death of my father, Chief Paulinus Okafor, a vigil mass at Ahiara Diocese, under Bishop Okpaleke. And I felt that the ethos and values of my father for being charitable must be recognised. I felt that it was important to immortalize his name by having a Foundation that takes care of the most important instrument of human growth, and that is education. An educated mind is a dynamic mind that cross boundaries, seen and unseen, known and unknown waters, just to make sure that our people are educated. That’s why education remains our cardinal objective while starting this Foundation. And I’m reaffirming that this journey is not a hundred meters datch, it is a marathon race we are having, not just to participate, but to complete and hand over the baton to the next generation.
This ideal is founded on continuity not on politics, not on race, or creed but to support and ensure that the flame of education does not extinguish in Akwaeze.
We are involved in St. Michael Primary School owned by the Catholic Church, Community Primary school owned by the Local government, Ezenegbo Primary school, Community High school Akwaeze. We are in these schools physically by providing teachers the working tools, or payment of Staff salaries, or running their ICT centre with privately provided electricity. The Foundation ensures that all their computers for learning are working whether there is light from EEDC or not. In the past, we have renovated the classrooms when there is need, and I will find out from the Foundation Secretary the update of our various equipment’s-TV, Computers, etc provided at three stages of schools at St. Michael Akwaeze. We have also approved the support and intervention of St. Michael plea for payment of teachers’ salaries. For the avoidance of doubt, I want to re-emphasize that the payment for school enrolment in Akwaeze schools remains our priority. When we took over the enrolment of children into community school Akwaeze, the number was below 200, but as I speak to you, the school enrolment is now over 650 and without iota of doubt, the biggest conference centre in all the schools in Anambra State is at Community High School, Akwaeze. The manager, Fr. Daniel told me that they came first after the inspection of schools in the state by the Ministry of Education. The level and standard of our male and female hostels is very high, the computer Laboratory is fully equipped and operating at optimum level,the only thing the children owe our Foundation is to utilize the equipments very well. We are ready and eager to provide more if necessary.
The Foundation having come of age, I want us to form alumni of Nzekwuobo Scholarship Foundation. And it can be championed by those who have graduated from tertiary institution, not from primary or secondary levels. I said in 2024, that a young lady who graduated from our sponsorship met me in London and identified herself as a beneficiary of Nzeakwuabo Foundation. And I advised her to endeavour to train another person as a way of giving back to the community that brought her up.
In 5 years time, this Foundation will clock 17 years, that means that those who have joined the Foundation in 2014 would have been able to finish primary, secondary and University education. Therefore, I want to have those who started from the cradle to tertiary level, to form alumni association.I have told the secretary to make serious effort in reserving certain quota in primary, secondary and University levels for Akwaeze indigenes. Based on available records with me, we have 53 graduates from this Foundation, 76 from secondary and 119 from primary schools .But I’m not yet impressed with the rate of growth, it is still below my expectations, not up to the level of my anticipation. But from this progress report, in four years time, not less than 120 University graduates will be achieved in Akwaeze Community.
I want to use this opportunity to publicly declare that I,m a beneficiary of sound education provided by my parents. And I,m saying without mincing words that the exploits of these 120 graduates in different fields, will make Akwaeze community a world beater in academics by 2040.
Therefore the onus is upon you to utilize this rare opportunity in transforming the community. The challenge is upon you not to disappoint Nzekwuabuo Foundation, the platform has been laid, the resources have been provided, and capable managers are already in charge.
However, I have nothing to regret if this opportunity is not well utilized, I attended one of the best schools in the world, attended Lagos Business School, got exposed and experienced in different fields of endeavour, and currently running blueship company in Port-Harcourt. This Foundation was established to Liberate our people from poverty, and set a platform for our children to key into modern academic civilization. It’s my appeal to every citizen of Akwaeze to contribute his or her own idea in making our Community a place of pride. Education is light, and right to everybody. We all deserve to have it”.
In his welcome address at the occasion, Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Ezeoke, the Foundation executive secretary applauded Okafor family for establishing a Foundation that takes care of people especially the indigent ones. “What you do for the poor and the less privileged will remain indelible in the hearts and minds of the people of Akwaeze, as well as the beneficiaries outside the community”. He declared three area of needs which the Foundation had been fulfilling, saying that the annual disbursement of Scholarship Grants to students, pupils, widows, widowers, blind students and those suffering from sickle cell are numerous. Other aides are medical outreach involving Laboratory test, medical treatments, and Eye diagnoses and free eye-glasses to patients. Then lastly, free Ante-Natal care to the pregnant women as well as Christmas gifts to adults and children.
Fr. Ezeoke said that the Foundation has funded 41 pupils in primary education, 57 in Secondary schools, 29 in Tertiary education, 9 in St. Peter University, 6 in Special intake Education, 28 widows and widowers, 4 blind students in the University, as well as those with sickle cell problems. The secretary said that under the supervision of the Foundation’s co-ordinators, three students have gained admissions into various Universities-Jude Amaechi Ifechukwu of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka to study Building Technology, Perpetua Asindu of the same University at Awka to study Geological Science, and Joel Oluchukwu also of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka to study Human Resource Management. The new beneficiaries for widows/widowers are Obiageli Uzokwe, Patience Amakor and Augustine Obiezu. Four blind students-Okeke Vincent, David Chidimma, OkoroNgozi and Awekpenloje Richard, all are students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka under our scholarships to pursue their academic career. The teachers’ salaries for this year,s academic session have received upward review in support of the ones paid by the State government.
He expressed satisfaction on the number of beneficiaries recorded in 2025 alone, stating that 119 graduated from various primary schools, 76 from secondary school, and 53 from tertiary institutions. He thanked the co-ordinators for living up to expectations throughout the year under review.
There were impressive comments from dignitaries that graced the occasion, and each was full of encomium regarding the outstanding sacrifice and investment on Akwaeze youths by Chief Ikenna Okafor. Eze Nebo III of Akwaeze in his remark, advised the beneficiaries to make adequate use of the opportunities provided by Idi Ezeani Nzekwubuo Foundation. He thanked God for using great philanthropist like Chief Ikenna Okafor to bless their people.
“He is one man doing great for our people. A man who has identified the need to nurture and train our children to become professionals in future, a man who has sworn to make their future prosperous. We strongly believe that the formidable foundation being laid today would in the years ahead yield great result. the outcome, no doubt, will impact positively on Akwaeze community. My presence at the ceremony was simply to offer royal blessing to the program, and equally to give Ide Akwaeze the moral encouragement towards keeping alive the annual programme”.
Emeritus Prof Brian Adimma, former Commissioner of Health in Anambra State, praised the effort of Chief Ikenna Okafor for taking up the huge assignment of redeeming the life of undergraduates from various Universities, the scholars and pupils, oppressed and depressed, Orphans, widows/widowers, blind, crippled and abandoned kids. “Such excellent performance can only come from a heart that fear and respect God. If we have more people like him in Nigeria, the society will be better than what it is today. Let us continue to pray for him so that his good gesture for people will continue to flourish”.
One of the beneficiaries, Johnbosco Okoli, in his appreciation noted with ecstasy. “In Akwaeze today, Chief Ikenna Okafor’s impact is undeniable, his name may not appear on every certificate, but it is written boldly in the success stories across this town.
Through his comment and sacrifice, he has helped produced graduates, Professionals in law, Medicine, education, engineering, and other fields, not through noisemaking or publicity, but through quiet consistency and genuine concern for humanity”.
