An industrialist, Ambassador Peter Ovbokhan Orobor, says philanthropy is not making impacts in Nigeria because the majority of the country’s wealthy individuals were not giving sincerely.
He spoke in Abuja on Wednesday when he was honoured as Peace Ambassador for his humanitarian services to the less-privilege by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF)-Nigeria.
Orobor, who is the Chairman/CEO, Jingle Bells Conglomerates, said what inspired him to help people was his belief that humans were created to help each other.
“There are reasons why people engaged in helping others, either for politics, business and other sake. There are those giving for the sake of God and humanity. We are giving as we were lifted up by God and we must try to lift others too.
“Poverty should have been eradicated or drastically reduced if the wealthy are giving to lift others up, be sustained and not for motives other than humanitarian,” he said.
Orobor said he has sponsored lots of persons in the tertiary, secondary and primary institutions, apart from empowering youths and women through job creation, and other programs that took some youth off drugs and out of the streets.
“We have a plan to take 200 less privileged students back to school in September this year,” Orobor said.
On his part, the Secretary General of the UPF-Nigeria, Dr George Ikpot, listed tribalism as a major cause of conflicts across the country.
He stressed that Nigerians need to build a culture of peace for one another.
Also, the Executive Director of Community Reorientation Movement, which focuses on Education, Human Rights and Project Development, Ambassador Joel Chukwuemeka Eneogwe, said they recommended Ambassador Peter for the award because of the intervention he has done with his personal resources.
“We are trying to show Nigerian youths to take leadership responsibility. Mr Peter is a kind of Nigerian youth that has been hidden and we are trying to expose him for the country to see. He has given more to charity with his personal resources,” he said.
