Hon Osinachi Nwaka 


The Transition Committee Chairman of Ikwuano LGA, Mayor Ikwuano, Hon Osinachi Nwaka  says his agenda to eliminate poverty in Ikwuano LG is all encompassing and none would be left behind, including People With Disability, PWDs. The PWDs live at the cold edges of society, often ignored in government policy formulation and implementation, or at best consigned to receive tokens.


But the Ikwuano Mayor says all that would be a thing of the past under his watch, and to that end, has rolled out a programme 'Thank God It's Friday, TGIF With Dr Alex & Mayor Ossy'  to enhance the lifestyle and economic status of Ikwuano-born PLWDs, especially those who have already created a source livelihood for themselves despite their challenges.


Nwaka,  while unfolding the programme during the weekend explained that on the last Friday of any month, one PLWD who is also an indigene of the LG and has a source of livelihood will qualify for a cash grant of N250,000, being a token of his desire to improve their lives.


"You must not be a PLWD that’s dependent on your family. There must be something you do because God does not add something to zero rather He adds one to what you already have.


“He asked Moses what he had in his hand, so there must be something you are doing and then we can add value to it, expand it and then follow up after three months or a quarter to know how you are using the money.


“I had to bring a better solution and that is why I am here, I’m here to discover the gaps, discover those things that are not right and correct them and to give hope to the hopeless.  So, just like we demonstrated today, every last Friday of the month, my office will be empowering two special citizens who are either blind, crippled or with any form of disformity", he affirmed.


The Ikwuano Mayor further proffers: “This exercise is part of my own inclusive governance.  It’s my own initiative to help my people grow above poverty. My slogan in Ikwuano is: Ihe adiwo mma maka na ihee abatala - things are better now because light has come. I’m not a typical politician rather a political manager who manages both resources and humanity.


"I 'll also make sure that dividends of democracy are deepened in the grassroots of Ikwuano LGA. So, all they need to do is to pray for me"


Nwaka, the Founder/President of New Era Foundation, NEF a philanthropic organisation, explained that 'TGIF With Dr Alex & Mayor Ossy' is a child of NEF "As the founder of NEF, our slogan is service to humanity. So, right now, a higher platform has come for me to do more and I’m not relenting. What I’ve been doing in NEF is a small thing compared to what I’ll be doing now because I have the government’s backing"


He further added that even the PLWDs without skill or any means of livelihood would not be left out and would be identified and a programme fashioned out assist them.


The event also  witnessed a grand reception for multi award winning Para-Powerlifter, Miss Amarachi Gift Mark, who hails from the LG and the  presentation of cash gift of N350, 000 (three hundred and fifty thousand naira) to a crippled cobbler and N250,000  to a blind young man.