society
“It Gives Me Joy When I Put Smiles On Peoples Faces”, .. Say Ezendigbo Foundation Philanthropist, Ozonkpu Onyeka Onyenachie Ifekandu By Ifeoma Ikem
“It Gives Me Joy When I Put Smiles On Peoples Faces”,
.. Say Ezendigbo Foundation Philanthropist, Ozonkpu Onyeka Onyenachie Ifekandu
By Ifeoma Ikem
Was it not Lucky Dube, the late popular South African Music maestro who once wrote and sang a song, “that blessed is the hand that giveth, than the hand that taketh”
Indeed,this song which built its lyrics root from the Holy Bible , in book of Act of the Apostles ,chapter 20, Verse 35, is widely known as an axiomatic fact.
Talking about giving, it presupposes that the giver must have before giving, possibly rich.
But the Bible conspicuously in the book of Matthew Chapter 19 verse 24, did fore-warn that ” it is easier for the camel’s head to enter the eye of the Needle than the rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
However, the story of this rich young Igbo international Business Mogul and Eze Ndigbo Lagos Island , appears to make an exception to the Biblical assertion.
Meet Eze Dr. Onyeka Onyenachie Ifekandu, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, CEO Of Mac-Akudiufu Nigeria Ltd , Capin Parin Bureau De Change Ltd , Park Bureau De Change Ltd, Who has been campaigning and advocating that wealthy business Men and women should devote zero point one percent of their yearly incomes to the cause of the indigent and less privileged in the society.
Little wonder he founded the Corporate Work of Mercy Initiative, which he called “Ezendigbo Welfare Foundation ”
Accomplished and Acknowledged Giver, lover of the poor and wretched of the society , who despite commiting hundreds of millions in uplifting the less privileged and down trodden in the society, projects that in five years time, he would triple his poverty alleviation and empowerment budget, as well as increase the number of indigent federal university students on his scholarship program, from 30 federal university students to over 100 students.
Infact this amiable, humble and unassuming rich young ruler’s generosity, has garnered to him,seven exclusive prominent Igbo titles bestowed on him at a tender age of 37 years, which many of his contemporaries,who are older and richer than him could not attain such rare titles and height respected so much in Nri, his home land.
Some of the titles he has been decorated with are: His Royal Highness,HRH Ezeanakiliekili 1 of Lagos Island; Ozo Wire-Wire ; Omechaluili Ofumbosi; Akuoma Di Ufu; Mkpata Enugwu-Ukwu Na Umunri and Ozonkpu,
This rare achievements, Ozonkpu title holder ,as he is fondly called by his peers, said, was Propelled by his love for the poor and Indigent People in the society.
It is on record that his “Eze Ndigbo Welfare Foundation”, has spent some significant multi millions of naira on scholarships awarded to over 30 brilliant indigent students,who had gained admission into their choice federal university, polytechnic or tertiary institutions of higher learning before they accessed the scholarship portal.
Surprisingly, the scholarship program of his Foundation is far from being the reason his beneficiaries have nicknamed him ” Mayor Of Empowerment”.
This is simply because Ozonkpu, the calm headed Philanthropist has many other empowerment programs for the poorest of the poor, such as the ‘Apprenticeship Support Aide ‘ for freed apprentice, who their bosses refused to settle or were given insignificant settlement Fund.
As a major business mogul in the importation and sales of tailoring materials, in partnership with the Chinese manufacturers, Eze Ifekandu, had initiated a special “goods on credit initiative” to assist poor, average and upcoming traders in his line of business.
Besides renting and paying shops rents for poor traders, who are dynamic and business conscious, focused individuals in Lagos Island, Ozonkpu equally supplies them with goods on credit or what he usually calls, “return after sales basis” empowerment.
It is also on record that Ozonkpu’s unlimited philanthropic gestures and empowerment foundation, have donated three brand new Camry luxury cars and built houses and apartments for many young beneficiaries within his Enugwu -Ukwu, Umunri community in Anambra State and beyond.
As an acknowledged bridge builder and a philanthropist without borders,which many said , have endeared him to the popular and respected Traditional Ruler, Oba Rilwan Akinolu, the Oba of Lagos, who considering Ozonkpu’s large heart, kindness, spirit of giving,generosity,milk of human kindness and selfless empowerment programs, conferred on him the title of Eze Ndigbo in Lagos Island, ever before he was crowned by his Igbo community.
That is why many non Igbo people, especially Yoruba, Hausa and other ethnic groups, bestowed on him the title of the ” De-tribalized Man of the people ” .
For four years running since the inception of his Foundation, Ozonkpu ,has been empowering Jobless Indigenes in Lagos Island and Anambra States, through his poverty alleviation projects, as well as provision of job opportunities for the less privileged, especially the potentially crime prone street urchins, Miscreants and Hoodlums, who his philanthropy have helped in no small measures in taking them away from Crimes and criminality.
It will shock Purveyors of tribalism and ethnicity to know that majority of his internal staff are Yorubas, including personal assistants and private security, who are seen freely executing their duties even in his wife, Lolo Nkechi’s kitchen.
Enquires by our Correspondent at his business district around Docemo street area of Lagos Island and beyond, revealed the enormous love traders, non- traders and “Area Boys” have on the kind hearted Eze Ndigbo Lagos Island, who they testified the fact, that he weekly and periodically sponsor market feeding program in an atmosphere of funfair in the market area, where even lucky customers are not hindered from partaking.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with our Correspondent in his Palace at the Green Field Estate, Eze Ndigbo Lagos Island ,explained that his humble beginning was very difficult, not Rosy, full of early stage hardship , hence his early poor background now motivates him to help the poor .
Indeed,Ozonkpu was not born with a silver lining spoon in his mouth, rather he was a Child of circumstance ,born into a poor,humble but God fearing home of late Pa Alex Chionye and Madam Charity Ifekandu, Who now but daily glorify God for the blessings , pride and honor He has used her son, Onyeka ,to bring to her family, kindred and Community at large.
While growing up 47 years ago, circumstances of life made Ozonkpu to drop from school, immediately after the death of his benefactor, his late father.
That sudden twist in life,pushed him to abandon school for one year,to seek financial refuge in a hotel Job, at the age between 16 and 17 years of age, where he worked for one year to raise funds for his school certificate examination, as his family could not even afford the N1000 fee for the West African Examination Council ,WAEC entrance then.
Determined to survive and succeed in life, the then teenage boy, Onyeka Ifekandu, was forced by circumstances to move to Aba, in Abia state, to start up the popular Igbo trade apprenticeship Scheme called “Nwa boyi”,with his late father’s old friend for five years,shortly after his School certificate acquisition .
After freedom, he re-located to Lagos in 1993, during the Igbo mass exodus after M.K.O. Abiola’s presidential election crisis, where he admitted that he witnessed the tribal hate, disparity and disunity between Yorubas and Igbos.
Undeterred by the crisis, he decided to remain with some of his colleagues at the Lagos Island,When other Igbo traders relocated to trade fair Complex due to maltreatment by the Yorubas.
He confirmed that he remained behind in Lagos Island, to propagate peace and harmonious co- existence between the Yoruba host and the Igbo entrepreneurs.
It was that M.K.O. Abiola’s presidential election crisis situation that made his sub conscious mind to determine to work hard within the 30 years he has been engaged in the tailoring materials business , to become a good Igbo Ambassador and bridge builder between the Yoruba and Igbo ethnic groups.
Despite the hard terrain of doing businesses in Nigeria, Ozonkpu did not abandon his age long dream of acquiring a University education and certificate , as he combined business with studies through the then distance Learning centers .
And today, he is a happy and qualified Banking and Finance graduate, a law student in view and an honorary Doctorate Degree holder,PhD, who is happily married to Lolo Nkechi Ifekandu and blessed with four children, three boys and a girl, all at various stages in their University education.
According to him, What he witnessed on his journey in life, shaped and sharpened his philosophy of life, which propelled him to vow that he will always give back to the society ,and will always help the indigent and less privileged until he goes to the great beyond.
Hear him: “Because I belong to a school of thought which believes that we are Sojourn here on earth , naked we came, naked we will go. Inspite of earthly acquisitions, when death comes, all would be abandoned behind,which is my motivating factor”.
Continued he : “Again My Good will and Corporate work Of Mercy have been paving ways for me.Iam happy and contented with what I have and enjoy sharing the little I have acquired with the indigent people , the youth and those victim of circumstances, because I went through hell to train myself through secondary school.I urge the rich in the society to learn to give back to the society ”
“I love harmonious co-existence with other people from other tribes, like the Yorubas.I love to see people being happy, though Iam not a billionaire but God has been keeping me and not allow me to go hungry”.
“It gives me Joy when I put smiles on people’s faces and lives and Iam contented with what ever I have because good will is futuristic and we must learn to love our neighbors as our selves, because it is God that created the Igbos and Yorubas”.
“What legacy are we living for posterity ? he asked?.
For him, “giving is not about what you have but good will and will power to give.When you give, God guarantees your blessings, when you give back to the society.Giving does not make one poor”.
On his recent coronation as Eze Ndigbo Lagos Island, he said : “My recent installation as Eze Ndigbo Lagos Island by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State and Igbo King Maker,in recognition of my love for humanity, it is a testament of the impact of my Corporate work Of Mercy Initiative.”
Banwo Questions Omokri’s Conduct After Appointment As Ambassador
Political commentator and founder of the Naija Lives Matter Organisation (NLM), Dr. Ope Banwo, has raised concerns about the conduct expected of diplomats following the appointment of Reno Omokri as Nigeria’s ambassador to Mexico.
In an article published on his website, www.mayoroffadeyi.com, Banwo argued that individuals appointed to represent Nigeria abroad are expected to maintain a level of neutrality and decorum that reflects the country’s diplomatic traditions.
The article titled “The Strange Case of Reno Omokri,” questions whether the tone of public political engagement associated with Omokri’s social media presence aligns with the expectations of diplomatic service.
Omokri, a former presidential aide who has built a strong online following through commentary on Nigerian politics and governance, was recently appointed as Nigeria’s envoy to Mexico.
According to Banwo’s article, the role of an ambassador requires a transition from partisan political commentary to broader national representation.
“An ambassador represents the entire nation and not a political party,” Banwo wrote, noting that diplomats are traditionally expected to avoid public political confrontations that could affect international perceptions of their countries.
He contrasted the roles of political campaigners and diplomats, arguing that the two require different communication styles and responsibilities.
“Politics is combative while diplomacy is measured,” Banwo stated in the article, emphasizing that ambassadors typically engage in dialogue, negotiation and relationship-building rather than domestic political disputes.
Banwo also pointed to the historical composition of Nigeria’s diplomatic corps, which has largely included career diplomats trained in international relations and protocol.
According to him, such professionals are accustomed to maintaining restraint in public communication because their statements can carry official implications.
The article also referenced the biblical book of Ecclesiastes to illustrate the author’s broader reflections on leadership and public office.
Banwo noted that the appointment of political figures to diplomatic positions is not unusual globally but stressed that such appointments usually come with expectations of behavioural adjustments.
He urged Nigerian public officials who hold diplomatic positions to prioritise the country’s international image and approach public commentary with caution.
“Nigeria deserves ambassadors who elevate the country’s image,” he wrote.
How OPay Is Turning Product Architecture Into a Customer Service Advantage
In high-volume fintech markets like Nigeria, customer service can no longer sit at the end of the business process. When a platform serves tens of millions of users and processes millions of transactions every day, the old model of customer service, call centres, long queues, and manual complaint handling quickly becomes too slow, too costly, and challenging to scale.
The future of customer service in fintech is not just about answering calls faster. It is about preventing problems before they happen. This is where product design, technology, and risk systems begin to play a bigger role. Instead of reacting to customer complaints, modern fintech platforms are now building customer protection and support directly into the app experience itself.
OPay is one of the platforms showing how this shift works in practice.
Over the past few years, OPay’s product development has followed a clear pattern. New features are not only designed to make payments easier, but also to reduce errors, prevent fraud, and lower the number of issues that customers need to complain about. In simple terms, many customer service problems are stopped before users even notice them.
One of the strongest examples of this approach is OPay’s real-time fraud and scam alerts. Traditionally, customers only contact support after money has already left their account. At that point, the damage is done, emotions are high, and recovery becomes more complex. OPay’s system works differently. When a transaction looks unusual, based on amount, timing, behaviour, or pattern, the system raises a warning before the transfer is completed. This gives users a chance to pause, review, and confirm. In many cases, this stops fraud before it happens.
For users, this feels like protection built into the app, not an emergency response after a loss. For the business, it means fewer fraud cases, fewer complaints, and less pressure on customer support teams. This proactive model aligns with global fintech best practices, which prioritise prevention over recovery.
Another important layer is step-up security for high-risk or high-value transactions. As users move more money and rely more heavily on digital wallets, security cannot be one-size-fits-all. Adding too many checks to every transaction creates frustration. Adding too few creates risk. OPay balances this by applying stronger security only when it is needed. For example, biometric verification and additional authentication steps are triggered in sensitive situations. This keeps everyday transactions smooth, while adding extra protection when the risk is higher. This approach builds trust quietly. Users may not always notice the security working in the background, but they feel the result: fewer unauthorised transfers and fewer urgent problems that require support intervention.
Beyond visible features, OPay also runs behaviour-based risk systems in the background. These systems monitor patterns such as sudden device changes, unusual login behaviour, or transaction activity that does not match a user’s normal habits. When something looks off, the system responds automatically. Most users never see these checks. But their impact shows up in fewer failed transactions, fewer reversals, and fewer cases where customers need to chase resolutions. As a result, customer service interactions shift away from crisis handling toward simple guidance and assistance.
Together, these layers form what can be called an invisible customer service system. Many issues are intercepted early, long before they become formal complaints. User sentiment on social media provides real-world signals of how this system is being experienced. On X (formerly Twitter), some users have publicly shared their experiences with OPay’s responsiveness and reliability.
One user, @ifedayo_johnson, wrote, “Opay has refunded it almost immediately. Before I even made this tweet but I didn’t notice. logged it as transfer made in error on the Opay app and they acted almost immediately. Commendable. Thank you @OPay_NG. I’m very impressed with this!”
Another user, @EgbonAduugbo, shared “The reason I love opay so much is that you hardly ever have to worry, wait or call their customer service for anything cuz everything just works!”
While social media comments are not formal performance metrics, they matter. They reflect how real users feel when systems work smoothly and issues are resolved quickly, often without friction. This product-led customer service model becomes even more important when viewed in the context of OPay’s scale. At this scale, even minor improvements in fraud prevention or transaction success rates can prevent thousands of potential complaints every day. In this context, customer service is no longer driven mainly by headcount. It is driven by engineering choices, risk models, and system design.
OPay’s journey suggests what the future of fintech in Africa may look like. The next generation of leaders will not only be those with the most users, but those whose systems are designed to protect users, resolve issues quickly, and reduce friction at scale.
society
Phillips Esther Omolara : Answering The Call To Worship And Transforming Lives Through Gospel Music
Phillips Esther Omolara : Answering The Call To Worship And Transforming Lives Through Gospel Music
Introduction : Phillips Esther Omolara (Apple Of God’s Eye) is an Inspirational and passionate Nigerian gospel music minister, singer, and songwriter dedicated to spreading the message of Christ through her songs.
Background : I was born and brought up in Lagos State. I am a devoted gospel minister and a worship leader who began her musical journey in the children choir later graduated to adult church choir at a young age, leading praises and also a vocalist in the choir.
Early Life : I was born on April 8th 1990 in Lagos, Phillips Esther Omolara is a native of Oyo state in Ogbomosho.
Family : Got married to Phillips Oluwatomisin Omobolaji from Ogun State and our union was blessed with children.
Education : I went to Duro-oyedoyin nursery and primary school Ijeshatedo, Lagos, where I laid the foundation for my academic pursuits. For my secondary education, I attended Sanya Grammer school in Ijeshatedo, Lagos.
During my high school years, I was already deeply involved in church activities. After completing my secondary education, Phillips Esther pursed higher education at Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).
Musical Style : Known for [e.g., Inspirational songs, Contemporary Worship, Highlife, Reggae, Traditional Yoruba], and my music blends spiritual depth with creative musicality.
INSPIRATIONS AND INFLUENCES : I have no specific role model in the gospel music industry. However, I have expressed my love for songs from several Veteran gospel artists who have influenced my musical journey.
Some of the gospel artists whose music i admires include:
* Mama Bola Are
* Tope Alabi
* Omije Ojumi
* Baba Ara
* Bulky Beks
Mission : My ministry focuses on leading people to the presence of God and creating an atmosphere for miracles.
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