… Honours Deserving Individuals
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The Nigerian Red Cross Society, Anambra State Branch, on Saturday, 11th May, 2024, join her counterparts all of the world to celebrate this year’s World Red Cross Day in Awka, the Anambra State Capital. It had “Keeping Humanity Alive”, as its theme.
Addressing the gathering, the Anambra State Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Professor Ifeyinwa Emelie, commended the healthy collaboration that existed between the organization and the state government and pledged that the Red Cross would continue to support the administration to achieve key goals, especially those that had direct impact on the people.
The University Don enjoined all, especially the well-to-do citizens, to partner with the organization, assuring that the Nigerian Red Cross under her watch would live up to and also exceed expectations, even as she called for concerted efforts geared towards taking the Red Cross Society, Anambra State Branch, to enviable and greater heights.
Also speaking, the State Secretary of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Engr. Kingsley Chukwunoso Okoye, appreciated Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his wife for their continued support to the organization and urged their members to keep the flag flying by being responsive to their humanitarian work at all times.
Earlier in an interview, the Chairperson of the Planning Committee and the Healthcare Adviser, Nigerian Red Cross Society, Anambra State Branch, Reverend Sister Dr Chrysantus Onwurah, expressed gratitude to God for His mercies and also for helping them to organize the event which was adjudged by many attendees as successful and rewardingly enriching.
The Organization, during the celebration, also honoured the Anambra State Governor’s wife Mrs Nonye Soludo, who is the founder of the non-governmental movement, Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo, with a humanitarian service and human development award.
According to the Red Cross, the humanitarian honour was a recognition of the unprecedented impact of Mrs Soludo’s healthy living crusade on the renewed lifestyle among the people of Anambra State which, it said, had systematically affected the overall health indices of the state.
Presenting the award to the governor’s wife, the National President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, said that Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative had through its programmes, driven key humanitarian policies by promoting social services and increasing support for health and education.
He said that as a major partner of the organization, the governor’s wife had also shown passionate commitment to Red Cross’ visions and had used those Visions to render selfless services for the betterment of humanity.
Receiving the award, Mrs Soludo applauded the Nigerian Red Cross Society for taking notice of the activities of her NGO, and explained that the award was only a motivation to keep doing more and spreading the message of healthy living to critical places.
The governor’s wife, who was represented by Healthy Living State Coordinator and Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, reaffirmed that Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative was a product of a deep passion, as well as being a movement that thought humanity first.
She pledged to continue to grow the partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society and to expand the scope of the collaboration to have a greater impact on the people, especially, school children in Anambra State.
Mrs Soludo, who dedicated the award to the Healthy Living Team Members and every advocate of the programme in the state and beyond, stressed that the programme was built on a permanent vision
Other awardees at the event included the State Deputy Speaker, Hon Chukwuma Pius Okoye; the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike; the state NYSC coordinator, Mrs Blessed Ekene Iruma; the State Commandant of NSCDC, Mr. Maku Olatunde, among others.
