It all started as a widow’s quiet promise to stay her husband’s compassion alive. Twenty-five years later, that promise has transform a lifeline for two.12 million Nigerians. On Monday, September twenty first, on the Chapel of God Global Worship Centre, Port Harcourt, Dr. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs led circle of relatives, beneficiaries, companions, and well-wishers in a Thanksgiving carrier to rejoice 25 years of the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Basis – 25 years of remodeling lives, construction communities, and growing lasting have an effect on. Writes MARY NNAH
There used to be no higher strategy to mark 25 years of carrier than with thanksgiving, and that used to be precisely what came about on Monday, September twenty first, on the Chapel of God Global Worship Centre, Port Harcourt, because the O.B. Lulu-Briggs Basis celebrated 25 years of remodeling lives, construction communities and growing lasting have an effect on.
White handkerchiefs waved. Outdated ladies danced. Docs, legal professionals, conventional rulers, scholars and widows drawn from each a part of the Niger Delta had collected for one reason why.
For its Founder and Chairman, Dr. Seinye O. B. Lulu-Briggs, FoID, it used to be now not simply an anniversary. It used to be an altar.
“I welcome you all with nice pleasure and a center filled with thanksgiving to God Almighty,” she started in her Chairman’s Commentary, her voice secure with emotion. She anchored all of the adventure on a unmarried scripture: 2 Corinthians 9:12 – “For the management of this carrier now not simplest provides the wishes of the saints, but additionally is abounding via many thanksgivings to God.”
A Widow, A Vow, And A Legacy That Lives
Twenty-five years in the past, there used to be no place of business, no team of workers bus, no finances of billions. There used to be just a conviction.
“Our Grand Benefactor, the Prime Leader O.B. Lulu-Briggs, my husband of blessed reminiscence, believed that the actual price of an individual might be observed in how that individual handled other folks in want,” Dr. Lulu-Briggs instructed the celebrated visitors.
She quoted Proverbs 19:17: “He who has pity at the deficient lends to the Lord, and He’ll pay again what he has given.”
She mentioned: “A legacy isn’t preserved simply via talking about it. It lives when its values proceed to provide just right within the lives of others.”
In a corridor the place lots of the beneficiaries sat, she defined what that legacy seems like in flesh and blood: “It lives within the older one that receives a day-to-day meal and companionship. It lives within the affected person who receives scientific remedy, the scholar who beneficial properties get right of entry to to training, the widow who receives prison strengthen, and the neighborhood that may download protected consuming water. That is the legacy we rejoice lately.”
N3.52 Billion, 2.12 Million Lives: The Math Of Mercy
For this Basis, each quantity has a reputation, a face, a prayer responded.
From twenty first September 2001 thus far, Dr. Lulu-Briggs published, the Basis has expended greater than N3.52 billion in carrier to humanity.
Its interventions have recorded an instantaneous achieve of 281,937 other folks and a complete achieve of roughly 2.12 million other folks.
“Those figures are greater than statistics. Every represents a human lifestyles and a tale of want, care and renewed aspiration for dwelling,” she mentioned.
Believe Madam Convenience, 82, from Buguma, who had now not observed obviously in 11 years as a result of cataracts. All over one of the most Basis’s 50 Loose Scientific Missions, she had surgical operation. Lately she will be able to thread a needle once more. She is one in every of 171,752 other folks reached in the course of the missions, that have integrated 1,723 surgical procedures and specialized screenings, in addition to the distribution of 35,133 eyeglasses.
“At the back of each surgical operation is somebody who gained every other probability at lifestyles. At the back of each pair of eyeglasses is an individual who can see extra obviously. At the back of each session is a circle of relatives relieved {that a} cherished one may just obtain care,” the Chairman mentioned.
Then there may be Pa. Tamuno, 76, whose youngsters are living out of the country. Loneliness used to be his loudest sickness till he used to be enrolled within the Take care of Existence Programme – the Basis’s first actual programme.
Since 2001, 781 older individuals had been enrolled. Lately, 69 elders proceed to obtain complete care – weekly scientific visitation, per thirty days meals provide, stipends, and day-to-day caregivers for some who don’t have being concerned members of the family of their properties.
On the purpose-built Biokpo Leisure Centre for the Aged, 191,345 weekday foods had been served. The programme has additionally constructed 10 properties for older individuals and established leisure centres the place they obtain care, companionship and recognize.
“The care of our elders stays particularly on the subject of my center. Too many older individuals who spent their lives elevating households and contributing to their communities in finding themselves with out good enough strengthen. They aren’t invisible. Our elders deserve safety, companionship and dignity,” Dr. Lulu-Briggs mentioned, quoting Psalm 71:9: “Don’t solid me off within the time of outdated age; Don’t forsake me when my energy fails.”
From The School room To The Court
The Basis’s love has now not stopped on the unwell bay.
In training, it has reached 33,437 other folks. It has awarded 974 Nigerian Regulation Faculty scholarships – growing a brand new era of legal professionals and supported 1,634 scholars via WAEC and JAMB preparation programmes.
It has built, renovated and upgraded faculties, supplied science laboratories and built a Nationwide Adolescence Carrier Corps hotel for younger graduates posted to faraway communities.
For livelihoods, 1,076 other folks have benefited from microcredit, vocational coaching, entrepreneurship strengthen and agricultural help – from fishing nets to stitching machines that was small companies.For water, a big problem within the Niger Delta, its blank water and sanitation interventions come with drilling boreholes and putting in mono pumps throughout 4 neighborhood places and supplying water purifiers to 21 communities.For justice, via partnerships supporting get right of entry to to justice, 15,350 other folks had been reached, together with widows and different susceptible individuals who may differently had been left with no voice in opposition to disinheritance and abuse.
And when starvation knocked, the Basis responded: 1,069 beneficiaries via unconditional money transfers and 35,700 other folks via direct humanitarian help.
“This would simplest had been God. Sure, it’s God,” Dr. Lulu-Briggs declared to applause.
Past The Party: A Week Of Carrier
The twenty fifth anniversary used to be now not marked with simplest speeches and songs. It used to be marked the Basis approach – via serving.
Actions for the anniversary integrated a unfastened scientific challenge from September 14th to sixteenth on the Rivers State College, Port Harcourt, the place masses of indigent citizens gained unfastened consultations, medication, eye exams and surgical procedures.
Then, on September twenty second at L. a. Sien Pavillion Royale, Port Harcourt, the Basis raised the highbrow bar for the country when it hosted its 1st Global Peace Haven Mind Well being Convention, tagged: “The Dignity of Growing older: Mind Well being, Converting Societies and the Long run of Care in Nigeria.”
In her Welcome Deal with at that convention, Dr. Lulu-Briggs delivered what many described as essentially the most profound observation on getting older in Nigeria lately.
“Getting old is one in every of God’s items to humanity. But dwelling longer additionally brings tasks for households, communities, healthcare techniques and governments,” she mentioned.
She famous that the Take care of Existence Programme taught her a a very powerful lesson: “Our revel in has taught us that care will have to transcend meals, safe haven and medication. The wellbeing of an older individual additionally comprises reminiscence, emotional well being, human connection, independence and the facility to take part meaningfully in circle of relatives and neighborhood lifestyles. When mind well being starts to say no, the results are felt now not simplest via the person, but additionally via spouses, youngsters, caregivers and the broader neighborhood.”
She painted an image of a converting Nigeria: Households are converting. Communities are converting. More youthful other folks an increasing number of are living and paintings a ways from their oldsters. Conventional techniques of prolonged circle of relatives care are underneath drive. On the identical time, individuals are dwelling longer and the desire for suitable care will keep growing.
“We will have to due to this fact start to suppose forward. How will we construct techniques that permit other folks to age with dignity? How will we recognise adjustments in mind well being early sufficient to offer suitable strengthen? How will we equip households and caregivers with the data they want? How will we make certain that older individuals stay valued participants of society somewhat than turning into remoted as a result of age or sickness?” she requested.
The convention, she mentioned, used to be convened to transport past consciousness against sensible motion – to inspire new analysis, more potent partnerships, higher strengthen for caregivers, progressed approaches to mind well being and a deeper nationwide dialog about how Nigeria cares for its getting older inhabitants.
The Center Of The Niger Delta
Prominent visitors on the Thanksgiving listened as Dr. Lulu-Briggs spoke of the area that has been the Basis’s number one constituency – the Niger Delta, Nigeria’s oil and fuel generating area.
“In spite of its plentiful herbal assets, the area continues to grapple with persistent underdevelopment, environmental air pollution, oil-related struggle, and lack of confidence. Residing prerequisites are tricky,” she mentioned.
For a rising and an increasing number of younger inhabitants, she famous, those prerequisites don’t seem to be simply power however deepening. Get right of entry to to healthcare, training, and financial alternative stays seriously constrained, and the space between the area’s useful resource wealth and the lived fact of its communities continues to widen.
“From inception, our overarching objective has been to succeed in underserved communities and support high quality of lifestyles via complementing the paintings of presidency and different construction companions.”
She attributed the breadth and intensity of accomplishments to cohesion with communities and direct engagement with conventional and civic leaders, evangelists, males, ladies, and adolescence on the grassroots.
“Their resilience and optimism within the face of hardship proceed to encourage our paintings.”
We Will Now not Develop Weary
On the tenth Anniversary in September 2011, she used to be requested what she thought to be the Basis’s biggest fulfillment. Her solution then stays her solution now: being of carrier to our communities.
“We’re known as via our Lord Jesus Christ to like our neighbour as ourselves. Every family that beneficial properties get right of entry to to wash water, and each and every one that receives hospital treatment, represents a sensible expression of that calling. Those are the achievements we make a choice to depend.”
She reminded the congregation that along subject material strengthen, the Basis gives religious convenience. In all actions, evangelists are provide to percentage the Excellent Information.
“What better fulfillment may just there be?” she requested.
However she additionally held up a reflect to Nigeria. In keeping with the Multidimensional Poverty Index printed via the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics, over 183 million Nigerians are multidimensionally deficient.
“Those are the individuals who stay on the center of our challenge,” she mentioned, quoting James 2:17: “Thus additionally religion on its own, if it does now not have works, is lifeless.”
“Our religion in God via Christ Jesus, will have to be visual within the lives we contact. It will have to convey meals to the hungry, care to the unwell, convenience to older individuals, hope to youngsters and coverage to other folks whose rights and dignity are threatened.”
Because the Thanksgiving carrier closed, Dr. Lulu-Briggs stored her inner most gratitude for ultimate: To the beneficiaries – “You’re on the center of this tale. Your braveness and testimonies frequently remind us why this paintings issues.”
To companions, govt establishments, conventional rulers, sister corporations, volunteers – “A few of you’ve gotten remained with us from the very starting.”
To the Board, control and team of workers – “God sees each sacrifice, together with those who obtain no public reputation.”
She ended with a vow, now not a valediction.
“Our 25th anniversary will have to due to this fact be greater than a remembrance of previous achievements. By means of the Grace of the Almighty God, it will have to mark the start of a better season of carrier.”
“We can now not develop weary,” she declared, mentioning Galatians 6:9, “for in due season we will reap if we don’t lose center.”
And in Port Harcourt, on that Monday morning, 2.12 million testimonies mentioned Amen. To God on my own be all of the Glory.