Enugu Govt Pledges Partnership as CUMEF Marks Five Years of Transforming Lives

The Enugu State Government has pledged sustained partnership with the Chijioke Ugwueze Memorial Foundation (CUMEF) to expand its humanitarian interventions, as the foundation celebrated its fifth anniversary with renewed commitment to education, youth empowerment and community development.

Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, who represented the state government at the anniversary ceremony, on Friday, said 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.

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, said 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.

According to him, the foundation has supported education, vocational training, sports development and medical assistance while maintaining transparency and fairness in its operations. 

He said that CUMEF has 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, Hon. 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.

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.

The fifth anniversary celebration highlighted CUMEF's growing role as one of Enugu State's leading humanitarian organisations, with stakeholders expressing optimism that the new partnership with the state government would further expand its impact on vulnerable families and communities.