•De Norsemen marks humanitarian day, reaffirms commitment to service
From Magnus Eze, Enugu
August 19 is World Humanitarian Day, but a humanitarian organisation, De Norsemen Klub International (DNKI), with “Service to Humanity” as its motto, reaches out to the needy on October 15 every year.
During this period, it spreads joy to orphanages, the destitute, the sick in hospital, inmates of prisons and other indigent people. They visit them with succour.
In preparation for the year’s edition, a three-day fasting and prayer took place. International president of the DNKI, Chidi Anokwu, an engineer, said the event was aimed at inspiring help across the world.
He charged all Norsemen to go into the world, multiply kindness and restore divine blessings. In one of the sermons on the theme: “Thy glory be fully recovered,” Prophet Obiajulu Obiajulu harped on humility and compassion, noting that they form the foundation for recovering lost divine blessings.
“In order to recover lost divine blessings, cultivating humility and compassion are essential qualities for Norsemen all over the world to embrace,” he said.
He pointed out that humility helps people recognize that they have strayed from the true path and need to realign themselves with higher forces, adding that, “It allows us to let go of ego-driven desires and surrender control to divine faith.”
Also, Bishop Charles Ikpere, in one of the sessions, urged Norsemen to embrace good character as the salt of the world, provide hand of succour with good attributes, and always embrace the spirit of giving, as everyone has something to give.
The international president, who marked the event in Abia State, explained that the group, as a non-governmental, non-profit, non-political and non-religious organization, was committed to service to humanity.
He said that DNKI currently has membership in 54 countries where they engage in one form of humanitarian service or another.
At a thanksgiving service at Wesley Cathedral, Umuahia, the Diocesan Archbishop, Most Rev. Chibuzo Opoko, praised the organization for their show of love to humanity and enjoined them not to relent in doing good.
Abia State chapter chairman, Chief Chinedum Ikeokwu led others to visit the family of one of their members, Dr. Ugochukwu Onyegbule of the Nigerian Horticultural Research Institute, Okigwe, Imo State, who was abducted from his office on January 18, 2023, and had not been seen.
They donated food items and cash to the troubled family and assured that the organization will stand by them at times.
Ugochukwu’s elder brother, Chukwuemeka Onyegbule, applauded the DNKI for remembering the family and appealed to them to help make the wife gainfully employed.
The group also visited the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where they presented a wheelchair to a patient and offset medical bills of others amounting to N800,000.
Responding, Public Relations Officer of FMC Umuahia, Darlington Mmadubuko said there were many stranded indigent patients in the hospital. He thanked the organization for paying the bills and helping to decongest the hospital.
Daily Sun gathered that the event was observed by various chapters of the organisation within and outside Nigeria.
Details from the International Publicity Secretary, Chidiebere Ugwu, indicated that in Bayelsa State, over 300 people in Opume and its environs in Ogbia Local Government Area, benefitted from a one-day medical outreach organized by the DNKI.
According to him, the Bayelsa State Chapter Chairman, Solomon Olali said beneficiaries received free medical tests and drugs for ailments like malaria, tuberculosis, typhoid, blood sugar, high blood pressure, glaucoma, COVID-19 vaccination, and eyeglasses.
Olali explained that the organization collaborated with the Primary Healthcare Centre in the Opume community to render the service.
He said due to the occupation of rural dwellers and the pollution of the farmlands and air, many of them needed proper treatment and care.
He urged well-spirited organizations to come to the aid of the people in rendering selfless service to better their lives.
Olali listed some of their humanitarian gestures in the state to include provision of traffic stands to the Bayelsa State Police Command, free blood donations during World Blood Donor Day, and sensitization campaigns against drug abuse and cultism.
Other activities, according to him, were the renovation of receptacles, pinning of street signposts, provision of mono-pump at Ikibiri community in Yenagoa LGA, visits to orphanages and prisons with basic items like foodstuffs, toiletries, slippers, and provision of stipends for the elderly and less privileged.
In Edo State, the club visited Ujiogba Kingdom in Esan land and was received by the traditional ruler, HRM Solomon Ojeaga and his Elders-in-Council. The group presented 50 chairs, 50 desks and 250 note books to the monarch for the use of the community school.
The traditional ruler extolled the club, noting that their assistance in 2022 went a long way in helping the pupils. The chiefs of Ujiogba Kingdom also prayed for the leadership of the organisation.
At St. Peters (RCM) School, Ifa Ikot Obong Etoi, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during a visit on Thursday, October 13, the group donated 600 Exercise Books, packets of pen, pencil, maker pen, a duster and one large White Board.
Chairman of the village council, who represented the village head and the headmistress of the school, expressed gratitude to the organization for the show of love.
They noted that no organization had visited there for such gesture since the inception of the school in 1954, and as such, described the event as both epochal and historic.
At the State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Kogi State, the DNKI paid medical bills amounting to about N1million for indigent patients, and distributed assorted toiletries and beverages to them.
The joy following the relief of anxiety and uncertainties could be seen on the faces of the beneficiaries, some of whom before then had no hopes of settling their bills.
In Ebonyi, food items, beverages and other commodities were donated to alleviate the conditions of motherless babies and destitute in the state.
Tubers of yam, bags of beans, bags of rice, cartons of noodles, cartons of soaps, toiletries, detergents, buckets and other household items were given to two homes.
Leader of DNKI in the state, Okenwa Uka said their action would help beneficiaries in ameliorating hardship caused by the recent petrol subsidy removal by the federal government.
Uka said: “People are suffering the subsidy removal and in tandem with the activities of the state government which for sometime now, has been releasing palliatives; food items to people at various local governments, our club also decided to support the state government in giving out these palliatives and that is why we have decided to reach out to you people hoping that it will help to act as palliative, it will help to ameliorate sufferings.”
Chairman, Planning Committee of this year’s event, Okoro Joshua Offor noted that the organization had in previous years paid school fees for indigent students, hospital bills for poor patients and assisted other less privileged in the society.
John Lekpa, the Chairman of St. Vincent De Paul Old People’s Home and Rev. Sister Chijindu Anekwe, in charge of Holy Innocent Motherless Babies Home, Onuebonyi in the state, commended the association for the gestures and prayed God to replenish the members.
The DNKI humanitarian train in Imo State berthed at Golden Stars Homes and Orphanages where members spoke to the kids on the essence of good character and being a helping hand to others when found in situations alike. They splashed gifts on the inmates.
At the Teachers Training College (TTC) Irete in Owerri, the group identified six pupils without school uniform and bought complete set of uniform for them on the spot. They also distributed over 100 text books including Quantitative and Verbal Aptitude with 240 exercise books; pencils and biros.
In Cross River, the club on Friday, October 13, hosted students from two schools in Calabar. Gift items were presented to them including books, clothing, food and hygiene kits.
There was also a workshop on environmental conservation, health and hygiene where experts in these fields led the sessions.
In Lagos, Beth Torrey Home for Handicapped and Disabled Persons received laptops to aid learning, food items and clothes, toys and other learning aids. The home also got cash donation.
The chapter chairman, Ojong Bassey and former International President, Dr. Shola Giwa said the visit was to share with the less-privileged in the face of global crises including hardship in Nigeria.
A caregiver, Patricia Akarume who thanked the DNKI for the donation, noted that they will install some software in the laptops and use them in developing the inmates.
For the Ogun State chapter, charity begins at home. So, it paid condolence to bereaved members, sick members and those that their spouses delivered babies.
The chapter also donated a traffic stand to the police which was installed at the Obasanjo Junction, Sango-Ota while the Niger State chapter awarded scholarship to five secondary school students.
Reports showed that foreign chapters of the club also participated actively in the event. From Ghana to Cambodia, Malaysia to the United States, and from Greece to Germany, members of the club showered love on the needy.
In Thailand, they visited people with disabilities and donated wheelchairs, crutches and food items while those in Indonesia presented some relief items to a government hospital. In South Africa, they fed street kids at Northwest.
Overwhelmed by the success recorded in this year’s event, the International President, Anokwu said: “We have undoubtedly made a significant positive impact on the lives of those in need. The compassion and empathy displayed by each and every one of you was a shining example of the power of humanity.
“I was particularly impressed by the look on faces of the beneficiaries especially school children. The smiles on their faces and the gratitude in their eyes were a testament to the positive impact we had on their lives. It touched me so much that I became emotional.
“With deepest appreciation and gratitude, I acknowledge the time, resources you all contributed to make this event a reality.”
