For people of Echori Ikwokwu Ito in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, the name, Mrs Esther Oduh Egwu, connotes ‘saviour’ to them whenever mentioned.
This is because Egwu went out of her ways, using every available resource at her disposal to make life easier for her rural Igede people who lacked basic amenities.
Before her intervention in the health and educational needs of the people, the villagers were said to go long distances when unwell to get treatment while their children of secondary school age often braced financial difficulties to seek knowledge elsewhere other than their vicinity.
Fortune however smiled on the community when Egwu, whom some preferred to call Mrs Gazama a daughter of the land, quietly came along and wiped away their tears.
Egwu, a civil servant who had worked for 22 years now during which she saved up to N10 million in addition to N15million in her cooperative account at her office, secured a loan of N25million from Access Bank to make up a total of N50million which she used to build a befitting hospital to serve the health needs of her Echori Ikwokwu Ito people.
“What motivated me was the challenges I witnessed when I visited a sick person in the hospital at our local government headquarters, Obarike Ito, who was not given a proper attention until he gave up the ghost.
“After I realised that we have nobody standing for us in our community, I felt challenged and I went for a loan at Access Bank plc in Abuja and was granted to be paid in 10 years, I used my house as a collateral before it was granted which I’m still paying till date,” she explained.
The hospital which according to her was commissioned on August 19, 2018 took exactly three years to be completed and was opened on that day with a free medical service rendered by the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN).
Egwu added, “I was an Ambassador with them (CBN) and they came to do free medical treatment on the day of commissioned.”
She said that there are 48 beds in the hospital with the required facilities in all the wards.
She added that for now, there are six staff, then a doctor, nurse, laboratory attendant, two cleaners and a security man.
Meanwhile, the secondary school has classes up to Senior Secondary (SS) level.
The woman who doesn’t want her trumpet blown had ever since then continued to run all expenditure incurred by the facility which she thoroughly equipped from her personal purse including paying staff salaries.
She expressed satisfaction that several people and in fact, the entire two Igede local government areas – Oju and Obi – including parts of Utonkon in Ado local government area are now beneficiaries of the hospital project.
Commenting on what she hopes to achieve with the establishment of the hospital, the philanthropist who resides in Abuja, simply disclosed that the welfare of her people and good health were of paramount concerns to her.
The woman who is also a livestock farmer urged other female folks like her as well as young people to be focus on whatever remains their heart desires so as to achieve set goals.
Apart from the hospital, she also built a secondary school in the same community and currently building a School of Health Technology for her community to better their educational lot.
The secondary school, no doubt had brought succour to parents and students who hitherto could have trekked long distances to neigbouring communities to acquire education while those unable to do so would have languished.
Presently, she appeals for help to provide road and electricity supply to her community so that the people can be comfortable in all ramification and boost commercial activities in their rural environ.
Some natives of the benefitting community have lauded the good works of Mrs Egwu, praying that the Almighty God will continue to bless and protect her for them.
They have also described her as a dependable pillar.
Even the National President of Igede Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Andyson Iji Egbodo, said Egwu remains one of the finest daughter of Igede land who had done what even political office holders couldn’t do.
He eulogised the woman for loving mankind, especially folks from her fatherland.
Egbodo said, “Igede Youth Council will continue to remain indebted to Mrs. Esther Gazama. She is, no doubt one of our first eleven in the women league in this part of the world. She has done what so many highly placed men even in public office could not do. We take this to be as a result of her love for her fatherland.
“Igede Youth Council encourages all men and women of Goodwill to emulate her. And it’s our prayers that God continues to uphold her with His right hands of righteousness. We call on our sons and daughters serving in high government offices to pick up the challenge from Mrs. Gazama’s exploits to push for the rehabilitation of Otukpo-Oju road. There is nothing worth more than bettering the lots of their people when opportune to do so.”
Meanwhile, Egwu looks forward to doing more humanitarian work for her people of Igede ethnic stock -the third largest ethnic group in the state – after the Tiv and Idoma speaking natives.
