By Praise Chinecherem & Julie Sylvia
A philanthropist, Chief Vincent Udobi has donated a bungalow to an indigent widow, Mrs. Bridget Okoye, whose only son, Nonso Okoye was reportedly killed by armed robbers at Tarzan junction, Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Udobi, a native of Ifitedunu, Dunukofia local Government Area, popularly known as ‘Ike Dunukofia’, was said to have been moved by compassion after observing the woman battle with flood that nearly destroyed her mud house at her Umuajana Akwa village, Ifitedunu.
He had ordered for immediate demolition of the structure and replacement with a modern block house.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, the benefactor said it was not the first time he rendered such assistance, saying no fewer than seven indigent families have benefited from his benevolence.
He said, “It was while I was driving past the widow’s mud house that I saw her battling with flood and stopped, ordering that a modern bungalow be built for her immediately.
“I build the house and installed iron gate, changed the bed sprayed, seats, among others, I did all these by myself to ensure it was done to taste and record time.
“Erection of the new building was done within two weeks and I was there day and night to ensure it was done on record time. Unfortunately the widow has died but the wife to her late son, is living there with four children.
“During festivities like Christmas, I distribute bags of rice to the down trodden and last December I did same, about 600 bags of rice.”
Reacting, wife to the son, Mrs Anthonia Okoye, confessed that the condition of surviving members of the family, including her four children, would have been worse if not for the benefactor’s intervention.
She said, “We now live in a new house and the electric bill is paid by Chief Udobi. He has been of immense help to us. He used his vehicle to bring my husband’s corpse for burial and solely bankrolled the bill of the burial ceremony.
“My four children, three boys and a girl, are all in school and I am nuts’ vendor. Onwa Ifitedunu ocassionally comes to know how we are managing, having lost my mother-in-law and husband to armed robbers recently. God will always guide and protect him.”
