Marble For Charity for Childless Old Widows is founded by Dame Ifeoma Oduma, (nee Ashikodi) from Ibusa, Delta state, 30 years ago.
By
Ifeanyi Henrietta Ashikodi
Dame Oduma, is an educationist, a philanthropist, a mother per excellence, a papal Knight of the Catholic Church and also the proprietor of Marble Hill nursery, primary and secondary schools, situated at Marble Hill Street, Okpanam LGA of Delta state.
Giving details of what led to the formation of the Charity Organization, Mrs Oduma said, when she relocated from Ibadan to Delta State with her family, she saw the plight of aged widows without children in her home town, Ibusa and she felt something needed to be done to improve the plight of this women.
She said with the help of few of her friends and through the assistance of her late uncle, Chief Robert Ashikodi, in December, 1993, over 30 years ago, the first set of aged childless widows in the town were mobilized.
She said the Foundation has grown from strength to strength and happy that till date this women are taken care of in every Christmas and Easter celebrations, while adding that recently organizations and individuals are beginning to identify with the laudable charity work.
In March 22, 2024, Association of Women Journalists, (NAWOJ) Delta state visited the Charity Organization, situated at Chief Lawrence Ashikodi’s compound, Idumuezeje, Umuakea quarters, Ibusa, Delta state to identify with the project and same time see the aged and childless widows and to present them with gift items.
Speaking during the visitation, the chairperson of NAWOJ, Delta state, Mrs Sonia Unobunjo said when they heard that there is a Charity Organization that takes care of childless old widows they were touched and decided to use the celebration of their Press Week to identify and also make their own donation.
She said, when one of their member brought to their knowledge about the Charity Organization, they were eager and had to task themselves notwithstanding the economic situation in the country. She said they were able to buy some food items and clothes in which they came with.
The NAWOJ chairperson appreciated Mrs Oduma for sustaining the foundation for the past 30 years adding that she will be contributing a minimum of N20,000 as a her own way of supporting the Charity work.
In her remarks, a worker in the Foundation, Dr (Mrs) Jowe-Asidi Obiageli Helen, Master of Ceremony, of the Charity Organization and Administrator, Marble Hill School, Okpanam,
applauded Mrs Oduma, for her humanitarian gesture adding that she is an embodiment of humility, her mentor and celebrated papal knight.
She recalled that a couple who after driving down their three children to the school in the morning never came back to pick them because they were involved in a motor accident same day and they died, she noted that Mrs Oduma immediately took responsibility of the children and trained them to the university with one of them now a medical doctor.
“When you sow a seed, it will one day germinate, that is what is happening in the Charity Organization and the school, I will continuously follow her footsteps, she has kept the legacy for others to follow”. Jowe-Asidi reiterated.
Responding, Dame Ifeoma Oduma, said the foundation started 30 years ago with the urge to help the less privilege, especially the elderly widows without children.
She said she had a friend many years back in Bauchi State who had difficulties in conceiving. She said when she left from Bauchi to Ibadan and finally relocated to Delta State with her family, she saw the plight of childless old women and she had the urge to help them. She said she muted the idea to two of her friends who bought into it.
The delectable mother of five, noted that this indigents women do not have welfare package from anywhere and are also too old to do any business or farm, “I said to myself, if It’s good for us why not help others”.
Mrs Oduma disclosed that for the past 30 years, she had carried on, doing the much she could and ensuring that at every Christmas and Easter this women has enough to eat, wear and also with money in their pockets.
“We are now preaching, let’s begin now to adopt at least an old woman without a child, feed her and cloth her”.
She said God has used this Charity Organization to open the eyes of some individuals in the town who are rich but do not see the need to invest in relatives.
“A wealthy man in this community, I wont mention his name, on realizing that his aunt who is old and childless is been taken care of from this Charity Organization, had no choice but to take the shame away from himself by building a house for her. This is what we have been preaching and we were very happy he realized and build a house for her”.
She said the reason why she had been silent, carrying on with the Charity work is because she believed that when doing charity you need not to blow your trumpet, adding that it is God that blesses.
She thanked the women journalists for coming and also bringing clothes and food items for the women.
In a related development, in show of solidarity and in appreciation to Mrs Oduma good deeds and the need to also help the less privilege, the family of Pa Fidelis Nzekwe of Umuisagba quarters in Ibusa while celebrating the 100 birthday of their father, in April 14, 2024, extended same goodwill to the childless widows.
in April 15, 2024, a daughter in-law of the family, Dr Mrs Eyamba Nzekwe visited the Charity home with food items, gift and money.
Speaking, Dr Nzekwe said the family who also believed in charity work were happy with what Dame Oduma is doing for the needy and decided to use the centenary celebration of their father to identify and make their own contribution.
She revealed that it is a privilege and God’s grace to reach 100 years in strength and in good health in this current Nigeria, she said the grace in the life her father in-law is from God. She disclosed that the family decided to celebrate their father and to extend such celebration to this Charity home.
Dr Nzekwe used the occasion to appeal to those who have to help the needy while stating that things are difficult in the country.
Contributing, Dr Chioma Nwadei, revealed that the Charity Organization are happy to receive the Nzekwe’s family and commended them for using such auspicious occasion of the celebration of their father to remember the childless old widows.
She prayed for the family while noting that every good work done on earth there is always a reward.
Responding, Mrs Oduma who was overwhelmed with joy, thanked the Nzekwe family for the philanthropic gesture.
She said she is particularly happy because people are now beginning to identify and key in into the project, saying that it can only be God.
She wished Papa Nzekwe a happy birthday and pray for more life and prosperity with God’s protection on him and other members of his family, she also thanked Dr Eyamba for allowing God to use her and coming personally to ensure the distribution of the food items, gift and money.
Some of the beneficiaries, Mrs Maria Okocha, 103 years old, Mrs Catherine Nwanze, Mrs Grace Ezewuka from Enugu state, Mrs Kate Nwanze, Mrs Nkechi Okorie all prayed for Mrs Oduma saying that without her they do not think they would have still be alive today.
They said Mrs Oduma for up to 30 years have been consistent in feeding, clothing and giving them money adding that in this very difficult period in Nigeria without her intervention they would have find it difficult to survive.
They also thanked the Nzekwe’s family for using the birthday celebration of their father to remember them, as they prayed for more blessings upon the entire family.
Not enough, in June, 29, 2024, the Old Students of St. Augustine Secondary school, Ibusa, class of 1970-1974, during the celebration of their 50th anniversary also visited and donated food items and cash to the women.
Mrs Oduma who also appreciated the old students for identifying with the aged women as she prayed that God will reward everyone of them abundantly.
On behalf of the women, the oldest woman, Mrs Maria Okocha who is 103 years thanked the group for remembering them. She prayed for then and wish them well in their endeavors
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