Enugu State government has pledged sustained partnership with the Chijioke Ugwueze  Memorial  Foundation (CUMEF) to deepen and expand it’s humanitarian interventions in the state.

Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, who stated this at the fifth years the anniversary ceremony of the Foundation, stressed that  CUMEF’s vision aligns with Governor Peter Mbah’s agenda of building a resilient and inclusive society through human capital development.

Describing the late Chijioke Ugwueze as a man whose impact continues to resonate despite his passing, Onyia commended the Foundation’s achievements under the leadership of Mrs. Amaka Ugwueze, noting that it has created life-changing opportunities for dozens of young people in the state.

He particularly applauded the Foundation for providing educational opportunities to 33 youths, saying its interventions go beyond charity by equipping beneficiaries with skills for self-reliance.

“You taught people how to fish instead of merely giving them fish,” Onyia said, while commending the Ugwueze family for sustaining the humanitarian vision over the past five years.

He assured that the Enugu State Government would continue to partner with the Foundation and also encourage international development partners to support its programmes in order to expand its reach across communities.

Earlier, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, Prof. Sam Ugwu, explained that CUMEF was established in 2021 to preserve the humanitarian ideals of the late Chijioke Ugwueze through education, vocational skills acquisition and targeted interventions for vulnerable persons.

Ugwu continued that the foundation has supported education, vocational training, sports development and medical assistance while maintaining transparency and fairness in its operations.

He said that CUMEF had grown into a dependable platform for humanitarian services with the capacity to deepen women and youth empowerment through strategic community partnerships.

Also speaking, Chairman of the occasion,  Edward Ubosi, described the late Ugwueze as his closest friend and a passionate humanitarian whose legacy continues through the foundation.

Ubosi praised Mrs. Ugwueze for keeping her husband’s vision alive, noting that the foundation has already produced 14 graduates and empowered many others with vocational skills despite operating for only five years.

He appealed to individuals and organisations to provide financial support to enable the foundation to reach more indigent Nigerians.

Founder of the Foundation Dr Amaka Ugwueze, stated that the idea was to continue on the humanitarian services of her late husband, whom she said “paid school fees, paid medical bills and helped women establish small scale businesses”.

She said of the Foundation; “Our current programme records show meaningful progress: more than fifty million naira invested from family resources; fourteen university scholars; forty-four students supported for major examinations; twenty-two young people trained or in vocational training; and more than two hundred and sixty widows and vulnerable people reached through recurring support. Behind every number is a person, a family and a future. As part of CUMEF’s institutional strengthening, we will verify and standardise these records through a formal post-anniversary review and audit.

“Education remains the centre of our work. We supported students with WAEC, NECO and JAMB fees, and selected promising young people for university scholarships. Today, we celebrate our pioneer university beneficiaries as they complete their studies. Their achievement belongs to them, to their families and to every person who believes that poverty should never be the final judge of a child’s potential. We will continue to support students while strengthening selection, monitoring and mentoring”.

She promised that the Foundation would over the next five years deepen educational support, expand practical skills and enterprise opportunities, improve inclusion for persons with disabilities, explore stronger community health partnerships and extend successful programmes carefully into neighbouring areas. Just as importantly, we are strengthening our governance, financial systems, monitoring and partnerships. Growth without systems is fragile. Our ambition is to build a Foundation that remains effective, accountable and faithful to its purpose for generations.

A member of the Board of the Foundation, Professor Ebere Idoko explained that beneficiaries of the foundation’s programmes are selected through a rigorous process designed to ensure assistance reaches genuinely indigent persons.