– Calls On Wealthy People To Lift Others
There was jubilation galore recently at Duruegwele autonomous community, Umeze 2 in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State as the people converged at the Umuduruegwele primary school field to witness the annual Egwele Cultural Day and the award of honour and recognition on a well known philanthropist, Attorney Charles Chibuike Onyirimba as the 2024 “Man of the Year” by the traditional ruler of Umuduruegwele autonomous community, HRH, Eze Emmanuel Emeronye who is also the Chairman, Ehime Mbano Council of Traditional rulers.
The event was attended by many distinguished personalities including frontline politicians, academics, business moguls, professionals and traditional rulers.
In his brief opening remarks, Chairman of the event, Engr Kelechi Amaefule expressed delight that his community, Umuduruegwele has raised great people who have made their marks in different fields of human endeavour and are also doing very well to the glory of God.
He stated that their gathering at the venue was to celebrate the 20th year of their traditional ruler, HRH Eze Emmanuel Emereonye, on the throne, as well as the 20 years of the creation of their autonomy, wwe also thanking God for His numerous blessings and protection .
Engr Amaefule commended the choice of Attorney Charles Onyirimba for the award, considering his enormous contributions to the socio-economic development of the community and humanity at large.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of the community, HRH, Eze Emmanuel Emereonye, Egwelle I of Duruegwelle Ancient Kingdom, expressed gratitude to God for bringing their sons and daughters home safely from their various places of abode and making it possible for them to attend this year’s unique cultural festival which, according to him, is very significant because it coincides with his 20 years on the throne. He maintained that the annual event should always serve as a unifying factor that enhances peace, love and mutual co-existence among the people.
He expressed satisfaction with the notable achievements recorded in the community with the assistance of some of their illustrious sons whom he implored not to relent pointing out that there are always bountiful rewards for good deeds.
The traditional ruler specifically commended Attorney Charles Onyirimba for his emergence as the Community’s “Man of the Year” after a rigorous competitive process, stressing that he truly deserves the award and recognition in view of his consistent contributions to the socio-economic and human capital development of the area which, according to him, will remain reference points for a very long time.
He appealed to him and other philanthropists from the area to join hands and actualize the proposed Town Union Secretariat that is envisioned to provide services for the men, women and youths of the community..
Responding after receiving the prestigious award, Attorney Charles Onyirimba thanked the community for their love and support over the years, adding that the award is for all of them.
He also thanked the first recipient of the award, Barr. Emeka Anugwom (Ugomsinachi) for his giant strides towards encouraging community development.
He added that the award was given to him in recognition of the good things he had done secretly in the past for the good of the community, without the expectation of being rewarded by any person.
Onyirimba said: ” This is an award given to someone to inform him that those good things he did in the past without blowing any trumpet were being noticed. I do not help people so that I should be praised, I only give in accordance with God’s directive”.
He therefore called on the well to do in the society to always assist the poor in their midst so as to encourage the transfer of happiness from one person to another.
The American based legal practitioner reaffirmed his resolve to dedicate the award to his late parents, Mr and Mrs. C.S Onyirimba. He submitted that his father’s notable teaching career was used effectively to serve humanity, describing him as a man of the people.
He also said that he would use the same award to remember his late brother, Rt. Hon. Stamphord Onyirimba, for his wonderful representation of Ehime State Constituency at the Imo State House of Assembly where he excelled as the then Majority Leader, a platform he used to attract developmental projects to Duruegwelle Community and also instituted their existing Kingdom.
He asked God to continue to help them in the provision of more good things in the area through their traditional ruler, Eze Emmanuel Emereonye, who he described as a man with the fear of G
He reiterated that his life principle has always been to encourage an individual to lift someone up who would in turn lift another.
In his brief interaction with newsmen, the younger brother of the award recipient, Engr. Michael Onyirimba, said that he was excited and overwhelmed over the award, stressing that his brother truly deserves the honour as a very wonderful person he is in the areas of attracting developmental projects and philanthropy. He described Attorney Chibuike Onyirimba as a man who always strives to put the needs of others ahead of his own, stating that his brother has built houses for many indigent persons, and sponsored many youths to America and Europe.
Engr. Onyirimba noted thus: “making money is all about giving out because there is enough for everybody. If you have money and you are not helping, you are only punishing yourself”.
On his position as the Apex Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Umueze 2/ Umueleke Political Ward, against his elder brother’s membership of Labour Party, he maintained that their different party affiliation will not in anyway conflict with each other’s ideology, stressing that their ultimate political goals in life must be for the general good of the society”.
