It was a historic and cheering experience by commuters, traders and residents of the popular old timber road in Umuahia, who woke up to see construction equipment and workers on site, rehabilitating the long overdue old timber road which had suffered neglect for over a decade.
Speaking with the Head of Protocol at CONNAK Foundation – Mr Chike Ekwe, he confirmed that CONNAK Foundation was responsible for the road maintenance works to ease movements.
He described the intervention as part of the Foundation’s corporate social responsibility to the community.
According to him, CONNAK Foundation is involved in youth empowerment as well as bringing succour to the people through various initiatives such as the full scholarship scheme, free medical care, entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programs just to mention but a few.
His words read in parts “The Foundation decided to embark on the maintenance of the road after the Residents and several indigenous commuters of the old timber road requested the Foundation to come and alleviate their sufferings through rehabilitating the road.”
Chikwe said they decided to embark on the project for the sake of the population that plies that road daily.
He added that government cannot do all for her citizens in the present day, he they decided to approach the Ministry of Works to contribute their own quota to the development of Abia State where their founder, Sir Kenneth Ukeagu hails from.
He recalled that CONNAK Foundation also collaborated with the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) on a health outreach in Amuzukwu Ibeku Umuahia, Rotary International on a Tree planting at Holy Rosary Secondary School, as well as the water fountain park at Federal Medical Center Umuahia which is at 99% completion. “These are just the few I can mention to you now in Umuahia, as there are some other projects in Aba that would be unveiled in due course, Chike added”.
Taking newsmen around the project sites, some of the residents, Taxi drivers and commuters who daily ply the old timber road that leads to Ohokobe Afara and Olokoro expressed their love for the kind gesture, one of whom is Mr Nmesirionye Ukaegbu, Chairman of Timber Road City Residents Association, who said they had already written off the possibility of the road rehabilitation.
He thanked CONNAK Foundation for the intervention as it would greatly alleviate the sufferings of the road users.
In a similar vein, the team visited the fountain park at Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Umuahia constructed by CONNAK Foundation. The project is another huge step taken by the foundation after paying-off the accrued medical bills of some patients in the hospital, who were not able to settle their bills.
Speaking with the Chief Medical Director at FMC Umuahia, Professor Azubuike Onyebuchi, he described the fountain park as a dream come true.
Professor Azubuike narrated to newsmen how he approached Mr Ken Ukeagu, Founder of CONNAK Foundation and requested him to come to their aide in constructing a fountain park where both patients and their care givers could sit to get fresh air and sightseeing, which he obliged without hesitation.
He further described Mr Ukeagu as a perfect humanitarian Abian, praying God to bless him more for his charitable activities and help to the helpless in the society.
