ICDA Fund raising: Hon. Ahmed Mohammed donates 1 Million Naira, assures his support to igala projects anytime

Detailed report of yesterday's ICDA fundraising project for the building of Igala Unity House.

By Onogwu Muhammed Galacticus

The hope of renovating the dilapidated and outdated Igala Unity House in Anyigba was kept alive on Sunday when a fundraising committee chaired by Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho was able to realise over N45million for the project.

Alhaji Isah Echocho, a foremost politician from Kogi East Senatorial District who was appointed by the Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA) some weeks ago, made a donation of N5million to open the floor for other donors.

The Attah Igala, His Royal Highness, Michael Ameh Oboni II, who was represented at the occasion by Ogohi Onu Anyigba as the Royal Father of the Day, made cash donation to the project.

The highest individual donation of N10million came from an industrialist, Mr Igor Charles Sanomi, the chairman of Talevera Group of Companies who is a course-mate and a friend of the Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Governor, Hon Edward Onoja.

In the same vein, the Chief of Staff and other appointees from Kogi East, serving under the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, including Local Government Administrators made N23million pledge to be redeemed in four installments between May and August 2018.

Lawmakers in the Kogi State House of Assembly from Igala land were not left out as members representing Ibaji, Okura, Dekina/Biraidu, Ankpa 1 constituency and Ankpa II donated N1m each to the fund.

Senator Smart Adeyemi who praised the vision and determination of the ICDA made a donation of N6m, noting that what the Igala Sons and Daughters have initiated will be replicated in Okun land where he comes from. 

The minister of States, Labour and Employment, Prof Stephen Ocheni who was represented by Hon Tom Zekeri also made over N5m donation to the fund.

Other donors were Mr Bolifemi Rotimi and Patrick Idoko who pledged four And five million naira Respectively.  Also, Igala Socio-cultural Group, Ojuju Agbadufu, and many other individuals made various donations to the fund.

Chairman of the Igala Unity House fund raising committee, Alh Jibrin Isah Echocho who was highly elated described the event as a welcome development and a beginning of better things to come.

He said his greatest joy was the mammoth crowd that graced the occasion. Echocho said the gathering had no political motive but those who abstained themselves on political grounds had no better way of telling the people that they were in politics for their personal interests.

The project which was initiated by the ICDA was well supported by well-meaning Igala sons and daughters.

The Chief Of Staff, Onoja, who was described by the ICDA President as the brain behind the project said Igala Kingdom can only be developed when the people come together for a common cause such as the Igala Unity House.

He said the invitation for the fund raising ceremony was sent to large number of Igalas across the nation while a newspaper advertorial was placed in the Daily Trust, The Nation and Thisday Newspapers of 25th May for wider coverage.

Over 80million was realised at the end of the program, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello assured ICDA of completing the funds and  to be at the commissioning by December 2018 Inshallah

While congratulating the leadership of the ICDA, Onoja urged Igala sons and daughters all over the world to take the responsibility of training the youths in entrepreneurs and mentorship, and charged them to also give back to their communities for the development of Igala kingdom.

Speaking briefly with the press after the event, Hon. Ahmed Ahmed of Ankpa I State Constituency assures his support to Igala projects home and abroad anytime. He specially thank the chief of staff to the governor Hon. Edward Onoja and friends of Kogi who came from far and wide to support the project.