By Edidiong Albert
Kindness is an exercise that is rare. Where men, who are kind-hearted exist, there is often joy in the society for the less-privileged. According to John Bunyan, an English writer and puritan preacher, “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” In the words Mahatma Gandhi, “The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”
Scripturally, kindness is preached. Our lord, Jesus Christ related in a parable those who will make heaven thus:
“Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
‘For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
“Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
“Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
“When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee?
“Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
“And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” – Matthew 25: 34-41
In Akwa Ibom State, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen is a man well noted for charity works. He does it not in his present capacity as the Commissioner for works in Akwa Ibom State but as someone who is passionately concerned about others. Inyang-eyen comes within the contemplation of what Mother Teresa said that “Love is not patronizing and charity isn’t about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same — with charity you give love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand instead.”
Inyang-eyen feels much happier when he adds value to another particularly those who may not be socially, economically or politically strong or able to help themselves. This position tallies with the thoughts of John Holmes that, “There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
Just recently, two more widows got surprised by his benevolence. A widow, Madam Grace Tom, aged 104 years received keys to a fully furnished two bedroom bungalow. Likewise Mrs Alice Joseph, a widow and mother of four who received keys to a four-bedroom bungalow.
RELATED: Leadership Challenges: To get Nigeria out of the Doldrums, we need to Break The Circle of Mediocrity
Madam Tom hails from Ikot Ebiere in Onna Local Government Area while Mrs Joseph Ibesit Anwa Udo is from Oruk Anam Local Government Area. To demonstrate the appreciation of the government over the gesture, the Akwa Ibom State First Lady, Her Excellency, Dr (Mrs) Martha Emmanuel was on hand to commission the two bungalows and to personally hand over the keys.
The First Lady, Dr (Mrs) Martha Emmanuel, while commissioning the bungalows last Tuesday, commended the donor of the building, Mr Ephraim Inyang-eyen, Commissioner for Works, for the kind gesture and charged other well placed and privileged citizens to emulate him.
The wife of the governor who thanked Mr Inyang-eyen for donating more buildings to her pet project, the Family Empowerment and Youth Reorientation Path Initiative, FEYReP, to boost the Shelter of Hope programme of providing accommodation for distressed widows across the State, prayed God to replenish his source and grant peace, health and divine preservation for the beneficiary.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Joseph, thanked the Almighty God for using Akparawa Inyang-eyen and his wife Ime, to provide shelter for her and the family in what she described as being like in a dream, which however is a pleasant reality. She lauded the wife of the governor for the Shelter of Hope vision and for coming to her aid.
On his path, Mr Inyang-eyen expressed appreciation to Dr (Mrs) Martha for selecting Mrs Alice as a beneficiary of the new home. He disclosed that the centenarian widow, Madam Tom was his care-giver, when he was a child, as his mother used to leave him under her nurture as a nanny.
Mr Inyang-eyen thanked God for keeping her alive and granting him the grace to show appreciation for her kindness whilst she still lives and promised to support the Shelter of Hope in donating more buildings in other local government areas to support the First Lady’s vision and thanked Governor Udom Emmanuel for giving him opportunity to serve in his administration.
It will be recalled that Mr Inyang-eyen in 2019 donated a building to a Widow in Ikot Ekpene under the auspices or FEYReP and another three -bedroom bungalow for a family whose thatch-roofed house was gutted by fire in Onna.
Mr Inyang-eyen however called on people of means and milk of human kindness to join hands with the First Lady’s Shelter of Hope by investing in the project to make home for impoverished widows go round.
At Ibesit Anwa Udo, the chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Area, Prince Ubong Idiong, appreciated the kind gesture of the Works Commissioner and announced a donation of N200.000 to the Mrs Jose to revive her business.
Other dignitaries who graced the occasion included wife of the donor and coordinator of FEYREP, Mrs Ime Ephraim Inyang-eyen; wife of the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and President of Legislators Wives Association, LEWA, Mrs Itohowo Aniekan Bassey; wife of the Leader of the AKHA, Mrs Udo Kieran and the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Agriculture, Dr Glory Edet among others.
Inyang-eyen’s lifestyle is captured in the wise words of Shannon Alder, who said, “Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.”
