A non-governmental organisation (NGO), The Needy and Special People’s Initiatives, on Saturday inaugurated its coordinator for Anambra State at a ceremony held in Umueri, Anambra East Local Government Area of the state.
The organisation was founded by Prince Morgan Ndubuisi as a non-profit, humanitarian and community-focused initiative established to improve the lives of vulnerable, disadvantaged and distressed people in society.
The NGO is driven by the belief that everyone deserves dignity, compassion, protection and an opportunity to live a meaningful life, irrespective of tribe, religion, social status or geographical location.
According to its organisers, the initiative was borne out of the recognition that while governments at various levels are making efforts to address the needs of citizens, government cannot reach everyone at the same time.
It therefore seeks to complement government efforts by providing support to people whose needs may not be adequately covered by existing government interventions.
Speaking at the inauguration, the founder, Prince Morgan Ndubuisi, said the programme was designed to reach poor and vulnerable people whose needs might not be met through government interventions.
According to him, the initiative is targeted at providing widows, less-privileged persons and other vulnerable members of society with the necessary assistance to enable them to become useful and self-reliant.
He said members of the organisation would receive assistance to address their various needs, adding that after two years of membership, qualified beneficiaries would be given N10 million to enable them to establish businesses.
“We are starting with many of those who are here today. We are starting with those who have health challenges. We are preparing for at least 1,000 people, but we are now going to work on the availability of those present today.
“But from what we are seeing, we have not yet obtained the data of those who need help in the area of health. Once their data are captured, we shall take them to a specialist hospital where their cases will be handled,” he added.
Ndubuisi explained that the decision to establish the NGO was borne out of necessity, noting that although governments at different levels were doing their best, the numerous responsibilities before them meant that some vulnerable people could still be left without assistance.
He said those who were not captured by existing government assistance programmes were among the people the organisation intended to reach and support.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the initiative, Hon. Kenneth Orji, said only people who registered as members of the organisation would be eligible to benefit from its programmes.
“Today is the inauguration, and all the LGA coordinators have a task to register members who will benefit from the programme.
“Today is the beginning of success, and everybody is urged to register because your registration qualifies you to benefit from this initiative,” he said.
According to Orji, the NGO was established out of a desire to serve humanity and provide access to assistance for people whose needs could not be adequately addressed by government.
He said the initiative was designed to cater to people with different needs, including healthcare, financial assistance, empowerment and employment opportunities.
“Here today, we have those who are in need of health services, financial services to carry on their businesses, those who need empowerment after skills acquisition and those who need contacts to get employed.
“I assure you that wherever you are as a member of this NGO, we will help you. We are not affiliated with any government agency. We are a single entity with a mission to put smiles on the faces of the people.
“You are here to embrace the occasion of humble beginnings, and for all the people here today, no matter what your problem is, we assure you of help.
“We are going to start with those in need of healthcare immediately, and thereafter, we shall engage with those who need financial assistance for businesses. We are starting immediately with the widows, after which we will proceed with those who have legal matters.
“If you think someone is taking advantage of you because you do not have anybody to stand for you, we shall engage that person to whatever level he or she wants. We shall make sure that nobody takes advantage of you anymore,” he stated.
Orji further said that after two years of membership, the organisation would take responsibility for members’ medical bills and other healthcare needs.
He also announced a programme targeted at families whose children were undergoing apprenticeship, saying the NGO would provide financial support to such beneficiaries after the completion of their apprenticeship.
“Finally, all those who have their sons under apprenticeship, after two years of joining this NGO, once your son is settled peacefully, the NGO shall give him N10 million in addition to what his master gave to him.
“This NGO shall be your immediate family in times of need. Whenever you have a problem, just come to us; we shall assist you as a member,” he added.
When asked what informed the establishment of the initiative, Orji said the founders had spent the past two years thinking of ways to positively impact the lives of poor and disadvantaged people in society.
He said the initiative was ward-based and would eventually be expanded into a national programme, adding that coordinators had already been appointed in several states.
“This initiative is ward-based. It is going to be a national programme. We have Ebonyi State coordinator, Enugu State coordinator, Imo State and Abia State coordinators—the five states in the Southeast.
“We are now working in the South-South. When we finish the South-South, we will take it to the national level,” he said.
According to him, registration into the organisation is free, but individuals must be registered members before the NGO can formally begin to engage with them or provide assistance.
He said this was why the organisation was encouraging people to register, stressing that the registration process must be ward-based.
“It must come from every ward. We have 21 local government areas in Anambra and 326 wards, and we have coordinators in all the wards.
“The organisation is an NGO interested in helping the needy. We want to help widows who have nobody to take care of them. We want to help indigent people in society. We want to do a number of things that government has not been able to cover.
“We want to be a support to people to attain a good life. The basis of our support is that you must be our member. That is the reason we emphasise registration more,” he added.
Orji further stressed that the organisation had no political, ethnic or religious affiliation, describing it as a humanitarian initiative funded by private individuals without government support.
“It has no political colouration. It was founded by Prince Morgan Ndubuisi to help the disadvantaged in society, and they are supporting him,” he added.
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