In ageless Africa, it is said that the heart that gives
love is humane, but the one that demonstrates care, is simply godly.
In simple terms, our ancestors, long ago, realised that
while love is desirable, care, its nobler variant, is ideal.
Luckily, our subject-Rt. Hon. Victor Onyekachi Ochei, has
both virtues( love and care) in the right proportion, in his kitty.
Long before he ventured into partisan politics (in lieu
of which benefit-popular support, for instance- many of our elite today become
emergency do-gooders for decoyed selfish reasons), or even dreamt of it, Victor
Ochei had not only drawn up the skeleton of his acknowledgedly huge
humanitarianism, but had actually began to give flesh to the sketch, by way of
positive actions. Today, like the millipede’s legion legs on wet soil, Hon.
Ochei’s humanitarian activities are firmly rooted in community service, sports,
education, the media, infrastructure, etc.
Long before he became a public figure, the Victor Ochei
household had acquired fame for its endearment to the people on account of his
selfless humanitarian support for the less-privileged. To the glory of God and
the benefit of humankind, the stream of that humanitarianism has neither ended,
nor even ebbed, even in the face of stiff pressures on available resources. In
fact, it is largely in recognition of this that the people of his ancestral
home-Onicha-Olona in Aniocha North Council area of the state cheerfully made
him Olikeze (meaning the one who lives like the king) of the kingdom. Though
the pre-scaffold meaning of the title refers to one who eats like the king, the
full import of the rare honour is found in the scaffold meaning: the man who,
like the king, cares for all his subjects, without let or hindrance. It is
equally important to stress, for the sake of those not familiar with the
virtues in the indigenous philosophies of the people of Anioma, of which
Onicha-Olona is an important part, that the Olikeze title is reserved for
the most virtuous and devoted of the nobles.
In the field of education and scholarship, Ochei’s
imprints are enduring and bold. For instance, he has donated more than N2m
worth of books to the Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, as part of his
efforts at enabling the institution enhance its capacity for delivery on its
mandate. He has equally subsisted in helping indigent students,
especially those in tertiary educational institutions, to pay their fees and
sundry other charges. Besides, his foundation-the Victor Ochei Foundation- has
awarded scholarship to legion deserving students. He has also donated books at
millions of naira in cost- to schools in his home local government area of the
state. This is clearly aside of his institution of a N2.5m scholarship award
scheme at the Federal College of Education technical (FCET), Asaba. The
scholarship scheme is for the best 10 graduating students in 10 departments of
the FCET. And you know what? The capital-intensive scheme is not only
revolutionary in the history of the institution, but also it is for a life
time.
Again, as part of his efforts at promoting scholarship
and academic excellence generally,Hon. Ochei, via the instrumentality of
De Saints International Club, a private philanthropic organisation of which he
is an eminent member,is undertaking a scheme to promote academic excellence at
the secondary school level. It is sponsoring an on-going inter-school debate
among secondary schools in the state. The project,under his sponsorship and in
his honour, is aimed at promoting scholarship and improving on the spoken
English. The huge public response to this project among secondary schools
in this state is a clear manifestation of its popularity and the far-fetched benefits
of the vision underlying it.
All of Hon Ochei’s huge investments in the field of
education are meant to help build a stock of efficient manpower that can
compete, across all strata and in all climes, and cost-efficiently drive the
wholesome development of the larger society. Of course, the wisdom in this
investment finds location in the fact that quality manpower-the under-pin of
Hon. Ochei’s investment in this strategic sector, is the moist vital
variable/factor in any organisation /production process because of its telling
effects /influence on other factors.
In the area of infrastructure development, Hon. Ochei has
performed no less creditably. Aside all else, he has donated buses to all
secondary schools in Aniocha North council area of the state, as part of
efforts at easing movement and teaching/learning in the affected schools. By
the same token of devotion to the promotion of academic prowess, Hon Ochei has
firmed up plans to build an ultra-modern lecture theatre for the Oleh campus of
DELSU. In fact, in proof of his commitment in this regard, the architectural
skeleton (design) for the project is ready, and it is only a matter of time
before the structure itself is erected, in fulfilment of Ochei’s dream.
Yet, that is not all; Hon. Ochei equally concluded plans
to furnish the classrooms of Umebu Secondary School, Umuebu in Ukwuani council
area of the state. This gesture is part of Hon. Ochei’s efforts at helping to
improve education infrastructure in parts of the state. The efforts, in
themselves, revolve around the conviction that effective education is the
single most potent weapon against a horde of challenges that face society and
its human constituents.
However, Ochei’s worthy efforts at enhancing the quality
of education and improving the infrastructure for its cost-efficient delivery
are without prejudice to his stellar performance in other sectors, including
professionalism and industry. For example, as part of his efforts at promoting
excellence among media practitioners in the state, he has floated a N1m award
for the Best Investigative Reporter award. The award is to encourage the
emergence of a culture of fact-based in-depth investigation and reportage.
It requires no gainsaying the fact that Ochei’s award in
this regard not only aims to promote professionalism, but also stems from the
depth of his innate conviction and faith in excellence, a key element of all
his engagements, in and out of public view. As for his steps in the critical
industrial sector, nothing more aptly captures this than vision behind the
establishment and management of Davnotch, the best known indigenous engineering
firm in the country. Though Hon. Ochei, in deference to the law and morality,
has relinquished his entire shareholding in the firm, its persisting potency (as
employer of hundreds of local and foreign experts) and its well-guided
forecasts of an impressive future attest to the finesse , clarity and
fore-sight behind the vision under-pinning the project.
In all, Hon Ochei has demonstrated that, like the
southpaw limb of the mystical hare, the Midas touch guide his every action,
while sure-footed reasoning, like invisible hands, guides him to ceaseless
success, as the people’s philanthropist. To God, be the honour and the glory,
amen.
Written by Yoroh George.
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