By Uzo Ugwunze
It was Jubilation and tears of joy as over a 100 less privileged persons including, hawkers, widows, barrow pushers, beggars, raffle draw agents, security men, and the loaders within and outside the New Auto Spareparts International market Nkpor, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State were gifted cash worth millions of naira.
Speaking during the special program tagged Good Samaritan Day (GSD), the Market Caretaker Chairman, Chief Stephen Oforleh said that the program which was an annual charity event was the brain child of Nkpor New parts market Evangelical team but added that the 2024 GSD was extraordinary because it was organized extensively in collaboration with the current General Market Union Executives.
” I want to thank the Evangelical team of this market for initiating Good Samaritan Day. I also want to appreciate the whole traders in the market for their free will donation despite the hardship prevalent in the country yet people still had something to spare for the needy. It is not easy, our response is encouraging even up till this morning people were still donating money in the market platform.
“Some categories of the beneficiaries over 65 people were given 20,000 naira each, while some others got 10,000 naira each and some got 5000 each even beggars across the flyover over beside the market received cash gifts as palliatives in the spirit of Christmas.
“I think Christmas period should not be a time to accumulate wealth through hook and crook means but a time to reach out to the less privileged and come together to share in love. Another Christmas will come next year as we hope to be alive to achieve more and celebrate more Christmas yuletide,” said Oforleh.
Meanwhile the trio of New parts market Evangelism team Leader, Pastor Innocent Nwafor , Former Leader, Evang Chijioke Ogboge, Chairman GSD Committee, Evang Emeka Okpeta said that the GSD charity give-away program was introduced by a former New parts market Evangelism team Leader named Deacon Emeka in 2007 saying that successive administration kept implementing it excepting the Covid 19 year when gatherings was prohibited in all markets to minimize infection.
They gave urged the recipients to continue to pray for God’s blessings upon those who contributed to their welfare in the market.
They further prayed that God will so bless the beneficiaries bountifully as they utilize the token in their endeavors so that by the coming years they would be part of the people that will give to others and not be at the receiving end again.
However, a beneficiary, a sachet water hawker, Mrs Victoria Onuoha on behalf of the recipients gave a vote of thanks asking God to bless the donors beyond their expectations and make them achievers.
Another beneficiary, Stanley Nwagu Ozommadu (Nwa Guy) a popular barrow pusher said that he has not experienced such a gesture since he came to hustle in the market asking God to surprise the sponsors of the GSD, the leadership of the Market and the Evangelism team for their benevolence.
Also, a recipient, Sunday Ifelokwu P U said that he served his Master for 9 years after which he settled him but he could not understand how his business mysteriously went bankrupt . After thanking the organizers of the GSD he urged business men engaging in witchcraft in the market to repent and fear God praying that the market will continue to progress under the leadership of Chief Stephen Oforleh.