Victor Ezeja
As Ebelechukwu Obiano, wife of the immediate past governor of Anambra State, Chief Willy Obiano, vies for the Anambra North senatorial seat in the 2023 general elections, she is no doubt riding on the back of her philanthropic activities.
She won the ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) which saw her defeating main rival, the former Chief of Staff to ex Governor Obiano, Primus Odili, by 152 votes to 120.
Through her NGO, the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFE), founded in August 2014, Mrs Obiano also known as ‘Osodieme’ which loosely means following footsteps of the husband in charity, has facilitated skill acquisition and empowerment training programmes for many women and the less privileged within Anambra and beyond. The NGO was also a platform to support the then Governor Obiano in delivering good governance to Ndi-Anambra.
She was said to have founded CAFE as a platform to enable her fulfill life-long passion of touching lives. The foundation came with the goal of addressing the needs of women and vulnerable ones in society, just like the “Better Life for Rural Women” founded by Miriam Babangida, wife of former Head of State, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.
In the course of her husband’s administration, Mrs Obiano through the NGO, accomplished various projects and programmes such as CAFE Housing for Indigent Widows which saw the construction of over 22 prototype 2-Bedroom bungalow freely handed over to beneficiaries across the three Senatorial Districts in the state. She also constructed CAFE Market Toilets in rural markets to promote hygiene in rural communities. Activities of the former first lady’s NGO has also organised empowerment programmes that has so far trained over 4,000 persons in various skills such as fashion design, cosmetology, catering/confectionery, hair dressing, ICT, telephone repair, community health services and other relevant skills.. The beneficiaries were supported with equipment and start-up stipends.
In the area of health, the Osodieme’s CAFE has given over 2000 free prosthetic limb and over 2,500 wheel chairs to physically challenges persons to address the needs of People living with disabilities across the state. According to records, the foundation also conducted free medical surgery for children’s with congenital mouth disorder also known as Cleft lip or cleft palette; and rehabilitation/cure of 82 persons at the Nteje Home for the Mentally Challenged.
The NGO was able to achieve these through strategic partnership with the State Ministry of Women Affairs, corporate organisations and some prominent Nigerians.
In one of her engagements, Mrs. Obiano speaking on why she is committed to helping the needy said, “there is something in me that abhors seeing people in anguish. That is why I do what I do.”
With these records of goodwill in her kitty, some observers believe she has got something speaking for her before the people of Anambra North Senatorial District whom she seeks their votes in the forthcoming general election.
Her campaign team was inaugurated in August ahead of the September 28 official commencement of campaigns nationwide.
During the unveiling of the campaign team that took place at her residence in Aguleri, Anambra East LGA of the state, Mrs Obiano hinted on her core responsibility which is to serve the good people of Anambra North Senatorial District.
She declared that her driving force is the passion and hunger to serve her people.
Addressing the campaign team led by Hon. Chinedu Nnatuanya as the Director-General, Mrs Obiano said, “All I need is your support to secure the senatorial seat. I can assure you that we will surely win the election with the support of Ndi Anambra North.”
Mrs Obiano, 59 years old, who hails from Ogbunike in Oyi LGA, was among the 28 candidates of various parties listed to contest the election.
With the campaign stage getting more intense, Mrs Obiano is in the race against the incumbent Senator Stella Oduah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Senator Oduah is contesting for the third term.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
