…Vows to provide free med. outreaches, succour for the needy
A Bayelsa born medical Doctor, Ayibaene Salmon Opukeme has founded a Non Governmental Organization, known as Salmon Opukeme Rural Help Initiative (SORHI) in memory of his late father, Salmon Opukeme who hailed from Opuama community in Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.
Speaking during the official launching of the NGO at De-Cabban Guest House in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa state capital, founder and president of the organization, Doctor Opukeme said he founded the NGO, which he described as a non profit making venture, to immortalize the great legacies of his late father which included love for education for all gender, humility, uprightness and care for the downtrodden.
The medical practitioner highlighted the aims and objectives of the NGO to include: advocacy for girl child education, campaign against drug abuse and addiction in rural communities, campaign against harmful cultural practices and gender based violence as well as support for the less privileged through scholarships and skills acquisition programmes.
Other objectives, he said, include: to create awareness on contemporary health issues, carry out free medical outreaches in rural communities and provide support services for rural communities in times of disasters.
Continuing, the SORHI founder said: “the above objectives may look bogus but they are achievable and not all of them necessarily need money to start with. It is our belief that with this initiative, we can turn the hopelessness in our rural communities to hopefulness.
“It is on this note that we call on all and sundry to be a part of this initiative to enable us achieve our aims and objectives for the people.” He further revealed that the vision of the NGO was to change the thoughts of hopeless persons in rural communities while the mission was to save lives of the underprivileged through charity and service to humanity.
Also speaking, the special guest of honour, Amb. Boladei Igali, who was represented by a former Majority Leader of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Osom thanked the children of the late Salmon Opukeme for keeping the glowing memories of their father alive, urging them to continue in the spirit of generosity, love for education, humility and peace which their father stood for, pledging his support for the NGO.
Earlier, chairman of the occasion, Professor Hudron Kari called on well-meaning Bayelsans and Nigerians at large to rally round the NGO due to its importance to the wellbeing of the less privileged in the society, especially in rural communities, pointing out that late Opukeme was a man of integrity who lived with the fear of God, and as an educationist, ensured that all his thirteen children, both male and female, were trained up to university level before he died.
Royal father of the day, Dr. Joshua Igbugburu, who was represented by the paramount ruler of Opuama Kingdom, His Royal Highness Kenneth Opukeme, members of Board of Trustees of the NGO and other dignitaries that grazed the occasion paid glowing tributes to the late Salmon Opukeme.
Members of the board of trustees include: Doctor Ayibaene Salmon Opukeme, who is to serve as president of the NGO. Rev, Fr, Jude Ikpaikpai is to serve as Secretary while Rev. Daniel Ndukwu is the Treasurer. Other board members are Dr. Saturday Okaminiwei, Dr. Richard Ikwuogo.
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