The Christmas season, beyond commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, represents a period of love, compassion, and selfless giving. It is a time when philanthropy finds its purest expression, uplifting the most vulnerable and reinforcing the shared responsibility of humanity toward collective well-being.
In furtherance of this spirit, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu (popularly known as Ikeoha), on Friday, hosted widows and persons with disabilities from Obowo Local Government Area and parts of Okigwe Zone to a grand Christmas celebration, marking the 2026 edition of his annual Widows’ Day programme.
The apolitical humanitarian event took place at the playground of Central Primary School, Avutu, Obowo LGA, and was aimed at promoting inclusion, hope, and social support among vulnerable members of the society. What began years ago as a modest outreach for widows and persons with disabilities within Chief Okewulonu’s Amaeke enclave has grown into a large-scale intervention that now draws beneficiaries from all twenty-two (22) autonomous communities of Obowo and, at times, across the entire Okigwe Zone.
Now in its 15th edition as an expanded programme, this year’s celebration recorded a significant improvement in scope, organisation, and reach, with over 2,500 beneficiaries in attendance. Participants received Christmas relief packages comprising bags of rice, clothing materials, and cash support, in addition to being treated to a well-prepared communal meal. All beneficiaries were orderly and satisfactorily attended to.
Declaring the event open after an opening prayer led by Mr. Vincent Okonkwo, Chief Sir Stanley Ekezie, who represented Ikeoha, expressed gratitude to God for His grace and sufficiency. He thanked the beneficiaries for their consistent participation and reaffirmed the strictly apolitical nature of the programme.
Speaking on behalf of Chief Okewulonu, he reiterated Ikeoha’s long-standing commitment to the welfare of widows and vulnerable persons, describing the initiative as a covenant of service rooted in faith and compassion.
“It is a promise I made to God that as long as I live, you will always be remembered at Christmas,” he stated, while assuring that the programme would continue to improve as God provides the means.
In their responses, the beneficiaries, through their various representatives, expressed deep appreciation for Ikeoha’s unwavering support and humanitarian consistency over the years, offering prayers for divine strength and continued prosperity.
The event featured praise and worship sessions and concluded with prayers offered for Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu and his family. The programme was competently anchored by Mr. Chukwuemeka Nwokeke (popularly known as Iroko) and Mr. Samek.
It is noteworthy that the annual Widows’ Day celebration forms part of Chief Emma Okewulonu’s broader humanitarian and developmental interventions, which span scholarships (both local and international), employment facilitation, empowerment programmes, business mentorship, donations, international travel sponsorships, and various life-saving community initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable growth and human capital development.
