Book launch: Governor Otti congratulates author, pledges partnership for Geriatric village establishment

Stephanie Ugele

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has congratulated his Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Father Christian Anokwuru on his book launch .

The governor has also promised to support him in his decision to deploy the proceeds from the launch to establish a geriatric village to improve the well-being and healthcare of the elderly.

The Governor stated this at the JAAC secretariat during the launch of Rev. Father Anokwuru’s book titled, “Nature and Nurture: Beyond Autobiography.”

Governor Otti said he was thankful that Rev. Father Anokwuru was not embarking on the launch for personal gain, but for service to mankind.

“So, I want to congratulate father Anokwuru for the courage, the resilience, and the hard work to complete the book, I can assure you, because you have also integrated a healthcare centre in the home, it’s already a success, Gov. Otti said.

Governor Otti pledged to partner Rev. father Anokwuru in the establishment and running of the geriatric village under a Public-Private-Partnership to ensure that the project was realised and sustained.

The State Chief Executive directed the commissioner for poverty alleviation and social protection, Mrs. Ngozi Felix to liaise with the priest and produce a workable model that would aid the partnership.

“She should sit down with Father Anokwuru. I don’t think, as a government, we should sit by and watch him do this alone. “So, I’m looking at a partnership whereby the government would engage with him (Father Anokwuru) and partly own this and support it financially.

“The details will have to be worked out at his own pleasure. But I believe that it is important that he remains in the centre of the village as a public-private partnership so that it will work. The people who will use the centre are also our people.

“A lot of money will need to go in. You need to buy drugs. These are people who can’t pay you. So, the government needs to get involved,” Gov. Otti stated.

Member representing Isialangwa North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe who was also a co chairman of the occasion encouraged all to support the project, describing it as an all-important project.

In their goodwill messages, former Minister of Mines and Steel, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, and the Chairman, Board of Greater Aba Development Authority, Ide John Udeagbala appreciated the passion of Father Anokwuru and his commitment to helping humanity and pledged their support to his initiative.

Dr Ogah used the occasion the to appreciate Governor Otti for what he was doing in the state, saying that, “Light has come to Abia State, only people who are made of darkness will deny it.”

The author and Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Father Christian Anokwuru said that various events that happened to him shaped his life and he put them together in a book.

He added that, he became an advocate of good governance before 2013 when, he got to know Dr. Alex Otti, whose dreams and aspirations in governance were in line with his own, saying that Abians had seen good governance under Governor Otti.

He assured that he would use the proceeds of the book launch to build a geriatric village to cater for the health needs of the aged in the state.

Also, the Chairman, Back to the Hero’s Past Charity Organisation and geriatric project, Professor Charles Chilekezi said that Father Anokwuru’s project “speaks directly to the heart of our society – the urgent and sacred duty of caring for our elderly.

Professor Mike Okoro reviewed the book following it’s unveiling.

The event attracted lots of politicians and dignitaries.