A noble woman is one who feels deeply and loves fiercely. Her tears flow as abundantly as her laughter. A noble woman is both soft and powerful; she is both practical and spiritual. She loves, cares, forgives, supports, walks awayand perseveres. Chief Dr. Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, Osodieme, wife of the Governor of Anambra state, Chief Willie Obiano, is not only a noble leader but also a woman that cares.

Osodieme, like Barbara Taylor and Mother Theresa, is a woman whoascended to mountaintops, found the loftiest peaks, most wrapped in clouds and snow; she then found the surpassed and subdued mankind and looked down on the hate of those below.

By her NGO, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), DrMrs Obiano, as at the last count, has built about 30 brand new bungalowsand handed over, free of charge, to indigent widows across Anambra State. Founded on the wings of passion for helping the needy, CAFÉ has, so far, etched its name in gold in the pantheon of charitable organizations.

As an umbrella Non-Governmental, non-partisan and non-profit organization for promoting the wellbeing of the family, CAFE has, through its numerous interventions and programmes, provided succour and impacted positively on the lives of the less privileged.Already, many attest that CAFÉ has become a high impact humanitarian organization and a global champion of charitable causes. This is because CAFÉ set out with modest objective to become a beacon of sustainable empowerment for indigent women, widows, the physically challenged and the less privileged persons.

Driven by an unusual compassion and belief in the remarkable thoughts of John Bunyan’s in The Pilgrim’s Progress: “You have not lived today, until  you have done something for someone who can never repay you,” Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano has effectively used the CAFÉ platform to expand the frontiers of charitable giving like never seen before in these paths.

CAFE has promoted hygiene and the dignity of women with campaign to stop Open Defecation and has constructed 32 modern public toilets in rural markets across the State. Also, to assist women in hard-to-reach communities,Osodieme has completed about 57 water borehole projects to complement government efforts in water supply.

In fact, the positive impact of the water projects have attracted global recognitions and partnerships with reputable organizations to CAFE and appreciations of Dr. Mrs. Obiano’s charitable initiatives with conferment of awards as EU/UNICEF Water Health and Sanitation (WASH) Ambassador, as well as United Nations Peace Ambassador.

In the same vein, working in collaboration with Smile Train Incorporated, an international organization empowering local medical professionals to provide free cleft lip and/or palate surgery, Osodieme has facilitated free corrective surgeries for over 200 children and persons with congenital mouth disorders of Cleft lip and Cleft palate. Again, in recognition of her selfless services through CAFÉ to cleft care, Mrs Obiano was made Smile Train Ambassador.

CAFÉ has also provided over 3,000 physically challenged persons with prosthetic limbs and mobility aides. Perhaps, the most impactful and enduring programme of the NGO is in the promotion of human capital development with over 6,000 beneficiary women, widows and physically challenged trained and empowered in various skills under its Skills Trainingand Empowerment programme.

Also, in collaboration with the state Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, CAFÉ has successfully treated and repatriated back home over 120 cases of mentally challenged persons at its 77-bed facility atNteje,thus ridding Anambra streets of stray mentally challenged persons.

No doubt, CAFÉ undertakes all these projects and programmes with personal funding and donations from benevolent Ndi Anambra and well-wishers. Thus,CAFÉ has been achieving this much with a small token. Therefore, efforts of all and sundry should be channeled towards donating in supporting CAFÉ’s noble initiatives.

BeyondChief Dr. Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano, Osodieme’scelebrated achievements, the hope in the future of CAFÉ  is hinged on its proven capacity and promises to increasingly improve and sustain its constructive engagements towards adding values to the lives of the less privileged and improving living standard in otherwise despondent homes.DaaluOsodieme!

WRITTEN BY DR NNAMDI NWADIOGBO

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