In a remarkable display of community support and humanitarian outreach, the Samuel Mary & Dame Emily Obiyo Foundation on December 31, 2025 carried out a large-scale empowerment programme for women, youths, the indigent, and elderly in his Ugiri Ike Nneise community, Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State.
The event, which coincided with New Year’s Eve celebrations, attracted a massive turnout as residents gathered to witness the foundation’s commitment to improving lives in the community. Dr. Uzoma Obiyo, founder of the Foundation, was widely applauded for his tireless efforts to uplift vulnerable persons in his community and beyond.
A day prior to the empowerment programme, the foundation conducted an extensive medical outreach, providing healthcare services to thousands of indigent residents not only in Nneise Ugiri Ike but across Ikeduru LGA. The medical outreach addressed a wide range of health needs, reinforcing the foundation’s focus on holistic community development.
During the empowerment ceremony, several speakers praised Dr. Obiyo and the foundation for their consistent humanitarian interventions. They highlighted the foundation’s role in addressing pressing social challenges and creating opportunities for economic empowerment.
The programme saw hundreds of women, especially widows and elderly men receive bags of rice, while a cow was presented to the delight of the beneficiaries by Dr.Obiyo , symbolizing both sustenance and financial support.
Most of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude, noting that the foundation’s gestures provided hope and tangible assistance to struggling families.
Dr. Obiyo, in his address, emphasized the importance of giving back to society, particularly to vulnerable persons who often lack access to basic necessities. He encouraged them to leverage the empowerment resources to improve their livelihoods.
The Obiyo Foundation has a track record of impactful interventions across various communities in Imo State.
Among its previous projects is the installation of streetlights to enhance security and visibility in Ugiri Ike community, a move that residents say has improved safety significantly.
As the Nneise Ugiri Ike empowerment programme concluded, the beneficiaries and community members alike expressed optimism that such initiatives would continue to impact the lives of the vulnerable, ensuring that the New Year began with renewed hope and tangible support for the community.
