Chinedum Treasure
International Confederation of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, National Council of Nigeria has disclosed its plans to build a hospital in Awka, Anambra State to provide free medical services for less privileged and vulnerable in the state.
National President, Okpala blessing disclosed this at the group’s National Board Meeting Onitsha Metro 2026, themed, “Leading With Love, Rekindling The Vincentian Spirit of Charity, Unity and Accountability”
She said the organization has been involved in holistic humanitarian services, including empowerment of hundred of youths, widows and other indigent individuals across the country.
She however identified medical services and funding as major challenges facing the organization, saying establishment of a hospital in the area would go a long way in addressing the health issues.
She said, “Our major challenge is medical. There are so many awaiting patients who have spent months in hospital due to inability to offset their medical bills.
“We’re requesting for land from our bishops to build a hospital with a clinic, here in Awka. It was one of the requests we presented to the Bishop during our visit to the bishop the first day we arrived.
“We assured him that once a land is given to us, we’ll start building the facility. We need money from government, international organizations and spirited individuals.
“Those who can’t afford medical bills will be treated free, while we use the money of those who can pay, plus those we get from other sources for staff salaries.”
Okpala added, “The name we bear is not ordinary. This is a man that put his life on the line for the less privileged and down trodden.
“We don’t just preach Christ by mere words, but we see Christ in the poor. Through our lives, we impact positively on the society.
“We don’t joke with the poorest of the poor. We don’t just give fish, but we teach people how to fish. There are so many widows we’ve assisted, including those who couldn’t pay their children’s school fees.
“Only in this retreat center, we’ve empowered more than 180 persons, both men and women. Some relocated from the north and west as a result of lack of job. We also empowered some less privileged youths with skills. They’re in their hundreds.”
Speaking on the essence of the engagement, Okpala said the Board Meeting offered the leadership opportunity to take decisions on the growth of the society and cascade same to the grassroots.
“We make laws for the interest of the poorest of the poor in the society, just as we strengthen our leadership by taking reports from our various apostolate to see how we’re faring. All the reports are reviewed and ratified at our AGM,” she added.
Also speaking, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Kim Eseka Emmanuel said the body had continued to impact lives of lots of poorest of the poor, including facilitating release of inmates during prison visitations, offering scholarships to indigent children, among other interventions.
Kim, former National President and National Patron/Trustee said, “This association was informed by the suffering and poverty of masses in Paris during the sixteen century when Vincent himself went to the streets, taking care of the needy and poorest of the poor.
“Since the Society came to Nigeria about 66years ago in Lagos, it has touched and impacted lives of poorest of the poor. It’s not enough to claim to be Catholic and pray Rosary, do the work of charity.
“Lagos, for example spends and average of N500m yearly to establish business for those who the unemployed, widows and other things. Same with other
ecclesiastical provinces of Nigeria,” he disclosed.
On his part, Coordinator, Society of St. Vincent De Paul, Africa 2, Zone 1, Eze Victor underscored the place of integrity and accountability as key virtues for members, especially for an organization dealing majorly with money and materials.
Comparing Nigeria with other four English speaking West Africa Countries under his purview, Eze lauded the country for being on track with the vision and mission of the organization.
He however expressed concerns over increasing number of vulnerable population in the country as against dwindling economy across the countries.
He said, “In Nigeria for example, we have numerical strength, unlike in Gambia where the number might not be there, but they have the passion.
“But from the reports we’re getting in course of the meeting, the society in Nigeria is on right track, especially with regards to the vision of the founding fathers.
“However, as numerical growth in terms of membership is increasing, the vulnerable population is also increasing. While the economy across the countries is going down, inflation rate is rising.
“You need to see the number of vulnerable population that throng our parishes for assistance from the meagre resources every Wednesday and Sunday.
“Recently, we provided a two bedroom accommodation to a virtually impaired man in Lokoja, we also intervened in areas being ravaged by flooding.”
While revealing that the body generate its funding mainly from appeals, Eze, a Knight of St Mulumba, canvassed for collaboration and partnership with bodies like Rotary Club International, Pharmaceutical companies to ensure increased impact.
One of the awardees, Elias Egie-Agabi from Lagos Central Council of the Society, expressed appreciation to the body for finding him worthy for the award.
“By the grace of God, I’m privileged to be in the midst of several dedicated and committed members. The award is not about me, but about my team which made impact the organizers were impressed with.
“The award will not only motivate us to doing more and better because to whom much is given, much is expected, but also others who were not honored.
“We’ll continue to work harder to ensure the poor and less privileged who we call our masters are comfortable,” he pledged.
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