Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has announced plans for a government partnership with Back to the Hero’s Past Charity Organisation on the proposed ₦5 billion Geriatrics Village Project being championed by his Special Adviser on Policies and Intervention, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru.
Governor Otti made the disclosure at the launch of Rev. Fr. Anokwuru’s new book titled “Nature and Nurture: Beyond My Autobiography, Vol. 1” and the unveiling of the Geriatrics Village initiative held at the JAAC Building in Umuahia.
The Governor, who explained that the Geriatrics Village project is designed as a family-friendly environment where the elderly can live with dignity, enjoy companionship, and access specialised healthcare, assured that the State Government would not allow the priest to undertake the project alone.
“I don’t think, as a government, we should sit by and watch him do this alone, so I am looking at a partnership whereby the government would engage with him and partly own this and support it financially,” Governor Otti said.
He further directed the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs. Ngozi Blessing Felix, to liaise with Rev. Fr. Anokwuru and present a workable partnership model.
Governor Otti, who commended Father Anokwuru for his foresight and compassion for the elderly, noted the integration of a hospital and health centre within the proposed village would serve as a refuge for aged citizens who often face neglect and loneliness in their later years.
The Governor also used the occasion to commend Rev. Fr. Anokwuru for his intellectual courage and commitment to community service, describing the publication of his 554-page book as a product of resilience, hard work, and sacrifice.
He revealed that Fr. Anokwuru has rekindled his personal motivation to revisit a book project he abandoned following the death of his editor.
“With people like Father Anokwuru, I’ve now been encouraged to go back and look at it,” the Governor said.
In his address, the Chairman, Back to the Hero’s Past Charity Organisation (BATHEP), Prof. Charles Chilekezi, noted that the Geriatrics Village, consisting of an old people’s home valued at ₦1.5 billion, combines residential housing, physiotherapy, recreation, and social services in one environment to ensure that the elderly live with dignity and not just survive in hospitals.
Prof. Chilekezi further disclosed that the Geriatrics Village aspires to achieve total self-sustenance by investing in large-scale agro-investment activities where crops such as cassava, melon, and yams are harvested each year for the support of the less privileged.
He assured that all donated funds to the organisation would be judiciously used to achieve maximum impact aimed at uplifting society.
Earlier, in his address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, explained that the proposed Geriatrics Village, to be located at Amuzu Ubakala, is designed to serve not just as a hostel for the elderly but also an institution of training for professional caregivers.
He revealed that the facility would also include a hospital equipped to cater specifically to the unique health needs of elderly persons and help prevent avoidable deaths.
Rev. Fr. Anokwuru noted that his association with Governor Otti has greatly enriched his life, pointing out that through the Governor, his vision for good governance has been realised.
He, however, condemned the actions of the “opposition” who he said are seeking to undermine the progress of the state under the guise of demanding accountability.
In his remarks, Chief John Nwankwo, a nonagenarian, expressed gratitude to Rev. Fr. Anokwuru for envisioning a home where the elderly would receive quality care and commended Governor Otti for his remarkable achievements, urging him not to be distracted by the antics of the opposition.
The event, co-chaired by the lawmaker representing Isialangwa North and South Federal Constituency, was attended by former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Chief Uche Ogah, among other dignitaries.
