I wrote this piece on 15th of November, 2014, it was published in 3 National dailies, then. It still stands the test of time.
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Deacon Chike John Okafor: The quintessential philanthropic mind
By Francis Udoka Ndimkoha
“Seest thou a man diligent in his duties? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men”. (Prov. 22:29) KJV
It is a well known fact that for every office, there must be an occupant, at any material point in time. Thus it makes no difference just holding an office for a given period of time if it does not add value to mankind. This informs and highlights Deacon Chike’s choice definition of leadership – “leaving a place a lot better than I met it”. This mindset has manifested in his professional career as well as his political career.
ACADEMIC CAREER
Young Chike was admitted into Imo State University, Owerri among the first set of students in the Lake Nwaebere Campus of the IMSU, after relocating to its current location, along Okigwe road, Owerri. He did his first degree between 1993 and 1997 and answered the clarion call to serve our nation between 1998 to 1999. Chike John Okafor also holds an MBA, among others.
BANKING CAREER
Fresh from NYSC, Chike John Okafor joined the defunct All States Trust Bank in 1999, from where he moved on to Oceanic Bank (now EcoBank), in 2002, and in his yearning for new challenges, he moved to Zenith Bank plc, in 2005, where he rose to the position of Senior Manager, before he was spotted by His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, in 2011, while he was busy trying to get his Bank to be a development partner of the Rescue Mission Government. His wealth of experience in banking came handy in his new office as the Imo State Commissioner for finance.
POLITICAL SOJOURN
As Deacon Chike John Okafor touches down on Imo political tarmac, it is pertinent to harp on some of the propitious auguries that have heralded his stint in the political terrain till date.
It will be necessary to begin by noting that prior to his appointment as Commissioner for finance, Deacon Chike John Okafor had not been a politician, had no interest in politics and had never been a card carrying member of any political party, in Nigeria. This accounts for why political pundits and book makers kept failing in their forecast that he may be dropped anytime there was a cabinet reshuffle. Indeed, he survived two cabinet reshuffles. He was neither dropped nor redeployed.
Once he assumed office, he set out to put an end to every avenue from which scarce state funds were hitherto frittered away by enshrining financial prudence and accountability for the efficient management of the State’s resources. He immediately set out to put in place machinery aimed at eliminating ghost workers from the system. He further strengthened this by implementing the policy of physical collection of cheques thus ensuring that no worker is paid in absentia.
It is on record that while other states of the Federation were still undecided as to the payment of the new minimum wage of N20,000.00 demanded by workers, he proved that this could be done if proper financial management practices were engaged and thus worked assiduously with his boss and mentor by making Imo State the first State to implement and continually pay this sum with the understanding that a well motivated workforce is the spring board to the actualization of the administration’s vision. There was no better way to announce his readiness for the daunting tasks that awaited the administration.
Of course the policy of paying state workers before month-end must be drawn attention to. Obviously, nothing more binds the love and loyalty between the Rescue Mission Government led by the amiable Governor of Imo state, His Excellency, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and the workers in the state. This singular policy has stamped out the incidence of industrial actions known as “Strike” in Imo state and also created stability and healthy working environment.
It is also on record that the Imo State Government in just a little over three years and a half has eclipsed all other governments in the actualization of transformational landmarks with a meager allocation from the Federal Government. As Commissioner for Finance, Chike played a crucial role by driving the State’s Internally Generated Revenue to new heights especially with the setting up and commissioning of an “IGR Taskforce Committee” and his ability to attract other sources of funding, thereby giving the government multiple streams of income. The pool of the resources notwithstanding, it took apt financial frugality and prudence to ensure this success story.
Chike was not a leader to operate from the top and disregard those he had the responsibility of leading. He maintained a very good working relationship with his subordinates as well as the staff of the ministry, as a sure-fire way to keep them motivated. His initiatives in this regard include, the institution of a quarterly staff forum that afforded staff across all cadre of his ministry the opportunity to meet with their amiable and charismatic leader to bare their minds on every issue (with no holds barred), appraising performances, highlighting challenges and taking incisive decisions on best way forward, an annual End of Year get together where deserving staff are recognized and equally appreciated with mouth watering gifts (a gesture that is to be replicated by other ministries after his initial fete). This stood him out as a pacesetter in the Rescue Mission Administration.
SERVICE DELIVERY
As a Rotarian, Deacon Chike does not know any other channel of expressing his FELLOWSHIP to his people except THROUGH SERVICE!
Not many have forgotten that his passion to carry his people along in the development strides of the Rescue Mission Government caused a stir in political circles. The people of Okigwe zone became the envy of other parts of the state and people started raising eye-brows as to why Chike John Okafor is looked upon by his people instead as the Commissioner for works!
These people, who equally had elected representatives, obviously, from the party at the centre, decry neglect and marginalization from the people they elected to serve them, thus they envy the people from whom Chike John Okafor, as a mere Government appointee, is doing so much for; despite not getting a single vote from them.
The entire Okigwe South is replete with the developmental projects attracted and financed by Deacon Chike John Okafor; some out of sheer philanthropy, some through the Government, yet others with support of his friends and development partners. Suffice to say, he did not allow the nature and tight schedule of the ministry to affect his love for his people.
There’s virtually no community in the entire Okigwe south federal constituency that has not been carried along in the developmental strides of Deacon Chike John Okafor. This ranges from procurement and donation of transformers to 38 villages in 22 autonomous communities of Obowo Local Government Area, with financial support for the installation.
At the last count, 42 transformers have so far been distributed and installed in Obowo L.G.A, 27 in Ehime Mbano and 11 transformers in Ihitte-Uboma L.G.A. these facts are verifiable.
Notably, some of the communities without presence of electricity at all were also affected by these giant strides. It is on record that from Orie-agu market through Umuoma to Dioka-Nzerem had no electricity at all. Deacon Chike John Okafor had to take the bull by the horn and set out to install electric poles, with the requisite high and low tension wires and as well donated and installed transformers to give light to these people. About 7 of these communities that were without light have all been RESCUED from the years of neglect and misrule of past administrations.
Just recently, the Imo State Police Commissioner was in Obowo to Commission a brand new Police Station single-handedly built by Deacon Chike John Okafor and donated to his Community, Umuoke. Today, not less that 14 policemen have been deployed to the new police station. The Eze and the people of Umuoke and indeed the entire people of Obowo cannot hide their joy over the reality of improved security in the area especially at this time of the year.
Again, Deacon Chike John Okafor ensured that his community, Umuoke, became the first community to have a fully constructed Government house, for the Community Government Council (C.G.C), a project he equally sponsored all alone. It will be recalled that the Imo state deputy Governor, His excellency, Prince Eze Madumere was in Umuoke in 2013 to lay the foundation stone for the project, while the Executive Governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha was on hand to commission the project in 2014.
Deacon Chike John Okafor thought it wise to join hands to immortalize our fallen hero, the Governor of the old Imo state, Dee Sam Mbakwe. To achieve this he built what is today known as “Sam Mbakwe Pavilion” within the Obowo Local Government headquarters.
As an astute Banker, time is of the essence to Deacon Chike John Okafor. Thus, he not only keeps to his social contract with his people, he equally delivers promptly. Currently, He is building and will soon commission a brand new Secondary school in Amuzi. It is important to note that Amuzi is the largest political ward in Obowo, comprising 3 autonomous communities. Amuzi is home to a number of high-profile politicians including the current Senator Representing Okigwe zone as well as the member representing Obowo in Imo state House of assembly. The current Imo state coordinator of SURE-P, also hails from Amuzi, yet Amuzi has been without a secondary school for the past 5years. Amuzi people recount, in tears, how the immediate past administration had handed over the two secondary schools they had to missions without making provisions for a public school for the sake of those who could not afford to pay school fees normally charged by privately owned schools. This led to a face-off between the missions and the community to the extent that the school had to be shut down and has remained so till now. No one had cared to fill this need till date. Deacon Chike John Okafor is doing it in conjunction with his friends and development partners.
PHILANTHROPY
Deacon Chike John Okafor in his quest for exemplary leadership has gone ahead to float an education foundation, being fully aware that education is the greatest empowerment that can be bequeathed to the youth. Through this foundation, he is giving scholarship to indigent youths starting from Obowo and running through the entire Okigwe South federal constituency.
Since the last two years, Deacon Chike John Okafor has been paying the West African Examination Council (WAEC) fees, National Examination Council (NECO) fees as well Joint Admission and matriculation Board (JAMB)/ Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) fees for selected secondary schools on Obowo. This, no doubt runs into millions of naira.
His educational empowerment has extended even to the tertiary institution. He started out by empowering 4 undergraduates in each of the 22 communities in Obowo (88 in all) who receive at least 50,000 per sememster. He has gone ahead to add to the list 2 undergraduates from every community in the entire Okigwe South Federal constituency. This implies that, with 32 communities in Ehime Mbano and 22 in Ihitte Uboma that have 2 slots each, in addition the 22 communities in Obowo who have 4 slots each, the Deacon Chike John Okafor Foundation has over 200 undergraduates in its sponsorship list. This list, owing to popular demand, will be made public soon, to clear all doubts, though it goes against the philanthropic spirit of Deacon Chike John Okafor.
Also in the list are 4 students in the Nigerian Law school fully sponsored by the Deacon Chike John Okafor Foundation.
Apart from his philanthropic gestures to the people of his community, it is well known that Deacon Chike John Okafor turns his birthday celebrations every November 15 into an avenue for reaching out to the less privileged in the society. At the last occasion of his birthday in 2013, he dragged his friends, well-wishers, corporate organizations who came come to align with his ideals amongst others to the Imo State prisons. The event which was a land mark occasion and laced with fun-fare witnessed the release of several inmates, various donations in cash and kind for the improvement of the prison welfare administration and his personal donation of an ICT centre which will be commissioned for use on his next birthday. We cannot overlook the fact that apart from the physical impact he made on that day, he led so many to Christ by his exemplary gesture which is a true reflection of his staunch adherence to live by what he believes and teaches.
Churches have not been overlooked in his philanthropic gestures. He is an icon and a pillar to so many in Christian circles as he has sponsored various evangelistic and kingdom expansion courses.
RELIGIOUS BELIEF
Chike John Okafor does not hide his belief in God. A devout Christian and a Deacon, many wonder how a banker, in today’s Nigeria, is able to make out so much time for the service of God. But it’s in him. He realized much early that there is no better way to serve God than through his fellow men.
Overwhelmed by Chike’s charismatic leadership, the Okigwe South have seen the need to beckon on him to go and represent them in the National Assembly, as a member of House of Representatives.
This has informed the decision of Deacon Chike John Okafor, to yield to the demands of his people and set out on the journey to the National Assembly.
Francis Ndimkoha writes from Owerri. francisndims@gmail.com