By any fair measure, charity is most meaningful when it restores dignity, not when it merely dispenses relief. That truth came alive in Udenu Local Government Area on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, during the Ichakporoko Charity Fair 2025; an event I witnessed firsthand as the Master of Ceremony, and one that left an indelible impression on everyone present, especially the beneficiaries.
Philosopher Aristotle once observed that “The purpose of life is not just to live, but to live well, to do good, and to leave something behind.” In Udenu that day, it was clear that the Ichakporoko Foundation understands this purpose deeply. The distribution of food items and cash support to over 200 indigent widows drawn from the 31 autonomous communities of the area was not an act of spectacle; but that of conscience.
Maj. Gen. G. Ugwuoke (Chairman of the Foundation’s Board) addressing the women during the program
The atmosphere at the venue was charged with emotion and gratitude written plainly on the faces of women who, for once, felt seen. Many of them have been crushed under the weight of economic hardship and rising living costs. What the Foundation offered went beyond bags of rice and cash grants; it offered reassurance that society has not forgotten them.
As someone who stood at the center of the proceedings, coordinating voices, transitions, and moments, I saw what statistics can never fully capture: the trembling hands of elderly widows clutching relief items, the whispered prayers for the donors, and the collective sense of relief that at least one festive season would not be marked by hunger or despair. German philosopher Immanuel Kant reminds us that “Human beings must always be treated as ends in themselves, never merely as means.” That principle was quietly upheld throughout the charity fair.
One of the sons of Late Michael Odo Abonyi, Mr. Igwebuike Abonyi, addressing Udenu Traditional Rulers Council at the Program
The presence of all Traditional Rulers from Udenu’s autonomous communities, political leaders, and respected stakeholders lends credence to the communal value of the intervention. It was fitting that the Vice Chairman of the Udenu Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Mathew Agbo, the Chinyereugo I of Obollo Nkwo, chaired the occasion, lending both moral authority and cultural gravitas to the gathering. Commendations from Igwe Romanus Odoh of Umuezejor and retired Major General Chris Eze (former Nigerian High Commissioner to India) further highlighted the broad respect the Foundation commands.
At the heart of the Foundation’s work is legacy. Founded in 2020 to perpetuate the virtues of the Late Chief Michael Odo Abonyi, the Ichakporoko Foundation reflects the character of its namesake. Chief Abonyi was not merely a politician; he was a builder of institutions and a believer in grassroots empowerment. From his days as a Councillor in old Isi Uzo LGA, to serving as Chairman of the defunct ANPP, and as one of the founding fathers of present-day Udenu LGA, his influence on Enugu North politics was both profound and enduring.
Speaking on behalf of the Abonyi family, Dr. Godwin Abonyi captured this continuity aptly, while the Foundation’s Chairman, Major General Godwin Ugwuoke (rtd), emphasized that charity, especially in difficult times, is a moral obligation, not a favor. As the French writer Albert Camus wrote, “Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present.”
A cross section of the Beneficiaries
This charity fair is not an isolated gesture. It adds to a growing record of socioeconomic and educational interventions by the Foundation across Udenu and the Igbo Eze North Federal Constituency, including bursaries and scholarships for indigent students. These initiatives point to a holistic understanding of development; one that links immediate relief with long-term empowerment.
The remarks by the Chairman of Udenu LGA, Aka Eze Aka, delivered through the Secretary to the Local Government, Hon. Chika Aroh, were particularly instructive. By framing the charity fair as a public-private partnership essential for grassroots development, the Council reaffirmed a simple truth: government alone cannot meet all social needs, and responsible civic organizations must step into the gap.
In the end, the Ichakporoko Charity Fair 2025 was exemplary not because of its scale, but because of its spirit. It demonstrated that compassion, when institutionalized and sustained, can become a powerful tool for social stability. As the beneficiaries departed with lighter burdens and renewed hope, one was reminded of a timeless African proverb: “A person is a person through other persons.” On December 30, in Udenu, that humanity was on full display.
✍️ Jude Eze.
