We Integrate Disadvantaged Youths Into Leadership Positions – Stella Ihwechi

Nigeria presently, is characterized by many individuals whose drive is to amass wealth and live in luxury without concern for their neighbours.

However, there are few exceptions who are labouring to make life meaningful for the less privileged. One of such persons is Stella Ihwechi, who is lending a helping hand to individuals in need through the Stella Ihwechi Foundation (SIF).

In this interview with Bochnews , she bares her mind on sundry issues about her activities.

Excerpts

Ordinarily, foundations are run by wealthy individuals, what informed your choices and how do you fund it?

Wealth, they say is of the mind. I have never seen myself poor. I was a child raised in Rumuola, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The chaos I saw growing up was overwhelming. My father was a drunkard at that time.

I grew up with so much inside of me but didn’t know how to express them.

Growing up, I was rejected and disliked because I didn’t want my mother to be sent out of her marriage.

The more I defended her from being summoned by her in-laws over unnecessary things because of my Father, the more wrath I incurred for myself which made my siblings and I to be defenseless.

I looked out for role models, to see if anyone shared the same story as mine, but I saw no-one as at that time.

Hence the foundation was formed to help the less privileged,and to see a model in me, especially those whose parents are constant fighters.

I needed them to be aware that they can scale through the storm if only they can dream big and fight for what they believe in. With all the tribulations that I was passing through, I had faith that I would tell my stories in due time, so, I didn’t let my guards down.

Many individuals are growing through a tunnel experience at this time. With the covid wave which shut down businesses and parastals. It has resulted to increase in wares in the market. It is really a difficult time in the history of the world. Well meaning individuals and institutions lets spread our resources to help ourselves. Helping out in different areas can cushion the effect of hard times.

We can all contribute in little and strategic ways. Some still doubt NGO’s We say my money cannot be misused or used to enrich someone else. From the antecedents of others who were meant to help but did not. Does not mean that there is no good foundation in the midst of bad. We are here to help and help really good

Let’s learn to give, giving is a culture we must imbibe

Stella Ihwechi Foundation (SIF) is founded by Stella Ihwechi Olusami, Rivers State born. I fund the project with my yearly savings and my friends also assist in the little way they can.

There are more challenging aspects of life, you preferred education, empowerment, why the decision?

Most of the prevailing problem in Africa can be handled by getting real education and skill acquisition which can survive an average family. Suffice to say, I believe that information is power! If you are properly informed, you won’t be deformed. So to be informed is through education and from being enlightened, one can cope with any skill to live by.

Is your foundation basically South West based, or has a national appeal?

It is not a South West thing , but Africa as a whole. After our just concluded program, other States in Nigeria have been calling for us to extend our good will to them and, we pray and solicit for more support and grants to be able to reach a wider audience.

*So far so good, any regrets on why you ventured into philanthropism?

• No regrets for doing what I enjoy doing. I want to appeal to our well meaning Nigerians. Please let’s improve our country by supporting a good cause. What is the place of the boy-child in the Nigeria society today, viz a viz his negative encounters with the female counterpart?

The boy is being neglected and the role models around are not accessible to the boy child. The things that can destroy the boy child are already available for them to access. Indian Hemp. Sex videos, groups , violent cartoons, peer pressure etc. Our law enforcement agencies should please enforce laws that will reduce the availability of the aforementioned.

The boy child vis a vis a girl child, the girl child is doing well and getting trained and equipped for the future. The boy child awareness and equipment need to start now, as the boy is facing more challenges with learning how to be a man, emotionally, mentally and psychological stability in a society where core values and standards are replaced with substandards.
_ Do you think the society has done enough to protect the boy-child?_

The society is yet to rise up for the boy child.

For the benefit of the public, what is your name and what do you represent in regards to the benefit to the public?

My name is Stella Ihwechi Olusami. I am a Wife, a Mother, a Coach and a Writer. I represent a Star! A beacon of light. As a girl, i fought for survival in the midst of heavy storms. I stand to represent a Ray of Hope for the down trodden and the less privileged.

So, Stella Ihwechi Foundation is a Non profit Organization that is aimed at solving most of our societal life challenges. Stella Ihwechi Foundation works in 3 core areas, Education, Health and Empowerment.

SIF began her work in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in 2005. The organization was fully incorporated in 2018 with Corporate Affairs Commission, Abuja, Nigeria, with the aim to strategically compliment the efforts of other responders to reduce the high rate of unemployment and poverty in the developing countries.

We link up with key responders to improve the lives of the less privileged and the down-trodden. From our research that was carried out, we realized that most of the crimes carried out by the young ones are linked to the school dropouts and the ones that never passed through school at all.

Education is information and information is power. This is why we help by providing them with educational materials and also by giving them scholarships to study and fulfill their dreams.

In the Health Sector, we organize a free hepatitis B health check and counsel them before referring them for treatment. Our medical teams are always on the go for all these health checks.

Stella Ihwechi Foundation empowers the less privileged with palliatives, and also sends them for different skill acquisition just to be able to make a living for themselves and their families.

Our vision is; giving hope and shaping the lives of our youths, while our mission statement is;
Work with all key responders to educate, socialize and integrate the disadvantaged youths into positions of leadership and also to live a life that is worthy of emulation.

Thanks for your time, Ma’am.