By Michael Nnebife
A relief from hunger came the way of hundreds of indigent individuals in Awka, the Anambra State Capital, on Thursday, June 19, as the apostles of the President, Dr Chinedu Umeadi Foundation, and Canada-based medical doctor, Chinedu Umeadi, embarked on ”Operation feed the streets”, to celebrate his 50th Birthday Anniversary in style.
The celebration took them to the popular Unizik Junction, Awka, with gifts of many plates of food and drinks to the downtrodden, and later, to Model Children’s Community Home, Awka, which received bags of 50 kg of rice, cartons of noodles, birthday cake, assorted drinks, among others.
The ”Operation feed the streets”, which one of the apostles, Dr Stanley Onunkwo, said was to demonstrate the humanitarian spirit of Dr Umeadi, turned the atmosphere of the two visited areas, joyous and solemn, as the benefactors prayed for a long life with sound health as well as more prosperity upon Umeadi.
Speaking with newsmen at Archbishop Albert Obiefuna Pastoral and Retreat Centre, Okpuno-Awka, where Umeadi’s apostles later converged to conclude the celebration, Dr Onunkwo gave more insight about the event.
‘Dr Chinedu Umeadi, a rare God’s gift to humanity, turned 50 today.
Though he is in Canada now, we are gathered here to celebrate him and thank God for his life of humanitarianism par excellence,’ Onunkwo, who is also the Grand Ambassador, Reapfold Properties Ltd, said.
‘We took permission to embark on this ”Operation feed the streets”, and the visit to the orphanage home to demonstrate his rare humanitarian spirit.
‘He has positively touched many lives too numerous to be counted. In fact, nobody met Dr Chinedu and remained the same.
‘He is the sole sponsor of the Science Quiz Competition in Anambra State. The numbers of less-privileged individuals he feeds and pays their school fees, including others he has given shelter, are too numerous to be counted.
‘These are reasons why we are here doing what you can see us doing; just to thank and pray God to grant him, not just long life with sound health, but also more prosperity, so that he will continue to be a blessing to humanity.
‘We will continue to gather again and again, even for his Centenary Birthday Anniversary, because the longer he lives, the better for humanity,’ Onunkwo stated.
While observing that many affluent individuals showed no concern to the suffering of the less-privileged around them, Onunkwo advised the affluent in society to emulate the humanitarian spirit of the Umuchu-born philanthropist, Umeadi.
‘The money you have is not solely for you alone; use it positively to touch lives around you for a better society as Dr Chinedu does,’ he urged.
Also speaking with newsmen, the Vice President, Dr Chinedu Umeadi Foundation, Mr Uchenna Justin Umeadi, younger brother to the Umuchu-born philanthropist, described his principal as a refined, true gentleman.
‘When I say he is a gentleman, I’m not saying so because he is my brother and principal, but because he keeps to his words.
‘Dr Chinedu is a man who has the need and feelings of people at heart. All he thinks is how he can improve the well-being of people around him,’ Mr Umeadi said, noting that everybody who had come across his principal had one or more positive stories to tell.
He also prayed for long life embellished with good health and more prosperity upon the principal so that he would continue to touch people’s lives positively.
For her part, a Young People’s Party women’s leader, and apostle to the celebrant, Hon Mrs Christiana Enukora, described him as a humble and kindhearted wealthy man with open arms, especially to the less-privileged.
She prayed God to reward him with longevity, even as she urged him to keep up his exemplary life of humility.
Cutting of birthday cake, entertainment, among others, climaxed the event graced by some family members, and friends of the celebrant who included the Director, Archbishop Albert Obiefuna Pastoral and Retreat Centre, Rev Fr Polycarp Okoli; and the Manager and Principal, Oueen of the Rosary Comprehensive Secondary School, Eziowelle, Rev Fr Samuel Chigozie, who also prayed God to reward Dr Umeadi with good health and longevity.
