... THANKS LEO STAN EKEH FOUNDATION FOR CHOOSING IMSU FOR THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAMME, AND DESCRIBES IMSU VC AS A UNIQUE PERSONALITY.
By Onyekachi Augustus Nwaozor, Anipr
The Executive Governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru, PhD, has urged the graduands of Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation Free Entrepreneurship Programme to effectively utilize the skills acquired during their training and opportunities provided by the foundation.
While thanking Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation for choosing Imo State University for the free entrepreneurship programme, she described the Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Professor Uchefula U. Chukwumaeze, SAN, FCArb, as a unique personality.
The Deputy Governor as the representative of the Visitor to Imo State University, Owerri, made the statement at the University Auditorium, on Friday, September 27, 2024, during the graduation ceremony of the Trainees of Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation Free Entrepreneurship Programme.
She described Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, who is the Founder and Chairman of Zinox Group as the leading African technological Icon, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, adding that Chief Ekeh has defied a popular saying by Zig Ziglar, who opined that "you don't build a business, you build people, people then build the business". She maintained that Chief Ekeh has built businesses, has built people, and is still building people, who have built and are still building businesses.
She called on other wealthy individuals to emulate Chief Leo Stan Ekeh and key into the shared prosperity ideals and initiatives of the Government of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The number 2 citizen of IMO State, on behalf of Governor expressed appreciation to the Management, Staff, and Students of the university for graciously accommodating Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation Center for the overall betterment of Imo State, and prayed God to continue to expand Chief Ekeh's philanthropic coast.
In his address, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group, expressed his appreciation to the Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, for giving him the platform to assist. He hinted that he would have done some of these things many years ago, but the politics of the South East didn't allow him to. He added that Governor Hope invites him to every function and promotes his efforts most often.
Chief Ekeh described Imo State University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chukwumaeze as a unusual personality. He, however, advised the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme graduands to remove pride in their lives and respect people with knowledge. He categorically stated that any person not close to God is not usually successful, and they must not allow pride to separate them from God. They must hold on to God because, what makes the difference is that, He will bless you when you least expect it.
He assured that the entrepreneurship Programme will continue by the grace of the Governor of Imo State, Vice-Chancellor, and Management of Imo State University and that the first Graduating set of 200 candidates of the Programme would go home with one Zpad Tablet each.
Chief Leo Stan Ekeh announced a cash donation of 50 million Naira to the Foundation's account, adding that the money would be for an interest-free loan to all those who are qualified and should be paid back in 5 or 10 years. He also promised to do something remarkable for Imo State University, in the name of his dear Wife, Lady Chioma Leo Stan Ekeh whom he described as 75 per cent of himself. He also promised to build a new structure in the University rather than refurbishing an already existing building.
Earlier in his address, the Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Professor Uchefula U. Chukwumaeze, SAN, FCArb, on behalf of Management, Staff, and Students of the University, expressed gratitude to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Imo State and Visitor, for gracing the occasion within a short notice. He equally expressed immense gratitude to Chief Leo Stan Ekeh and his beloved wife, Lady Chioma Leo Stan Ekeh, for their numerous support to the university whenever their assistance was needed.
While commending the Pioneer Director of Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation, Dr. Gloria Ernest-Samuel for her effective job delivery, Professor Chukwumaeze, on the spot reappointed her for another year. He recalled that he was about to appoint Dr Gloria as the Head of the Department of Theater Arts in 2023, but changed his mind and appointed her as the Pioneer Director of the Center and charged her to go and nurture the Center further. He added that she had done well, which necessitated her reappointment.
For the Graduands, the Vice-Chancellor reminded them that Chief Ekeh did not just teach them, but he also empowered them, pointing out that the best empowerment is the knowledge acquired, and Chief Ekeh not only empowered them with knowledge but also empowered them financially and electronically. He added that "the foundation he has given to you is enough to make you bigger and richer than any known billionaire in the world. I urge you to emulate Chief Ekeh in his humility".
In her address, the Director, Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation Center , Dr. Gloria Ernest-Samuel stated that she felt very privileged to be the one chosen by the Vice-Chancellor, amongst the nearly 600 Lecturers in Imo State University. She said that in the 3 months of the programme, the trainees criss-crossed through several courses, which included but not limited to Career Planning, Etiquette, Financial Management, Business Law and Ideation, Entrepreneurship, Selling and Branding, Public Speaking, Digital Publishing, Artificial Intelligence, Social Media Marketing, among others.
Dr Gloria hinted that Chief Leo Stan Ekeh pulled his contacts and harnessed thoroughbred experts in various disciplines from Nigeria, America, and the UK to teach the trainees at no cost to them. Speaking further, she said that Chief Ekeh also gifted all the trainees with brand new Zpad Tablets to aid them with their work and research and also paid them. a stipend of twenty thousand naira to augment their weekly transport to the Center.
She however stressed that Chief Ekeh had set a standard at Imo State University and the Center can boast of a state-of-the-art smart board and other equipments, which made it possible for experts outside Nigeria to teach the trainees virtually, adding that Chief Leo Stan Ekeh's passion for human development is infectious. The Director, further thanked the Vice-Chancellor for the opportunity given to her which underscored his overwhelming support for her and the Center.
The high point of the occasion was the presentation, on behalf of the University Management, Staff, and Students of Imo State University, of a beautiful portrait of Chief Ekeh by the Imo State Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ihuoma Ekomaru, PhD, in appreciation of the philanthropic gestures.
Dignitaries at the event were; the Commissioner for Tertiary and Technical Education, Prof. Victor Nwachukwu, represented by the Director of the Department, of Tertiary Education, Mrs Nkechi M. Eke, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Office of the Deputy Governor, Sir (Barr) Tobechi Ekomaru, Principal Officers of Imo State University, as well as Deans, Directors, Heads of Department, Staff and Students of the university, Director-General, Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation, Engr. Amasike Emelonye, the Chairman, Mbaitoli Council of Traditional Rulers, His Royal Highness Eze George Ekeh, and guests from all walks of life.
Onyekachi Augustus Nwaozor is,
The Assistant Public Relations Officer,
of Imo State University, Owerri.
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