Int'l Friendship's Day: We're Out To Complement Government Efforts On Social Welfare ~Innerwheel District Chairman

The complementary role of Inner Wheel Club to government in enhancing the social welfare of the people, especially the less privileged, was the highlight of the discussions as the four Inner Wheel Clubs in Abakaliki came together to celebrate this year’s International Friendship Day in Abakaliki, Wednesday, 31st July.

Speaking during 2024 International Friendship's Day Celebration, Inner Wheel District 914 Chairman, IWM Deborah Chinwe Okah, a member of IWC of Abakaliki, reiterated the mission of the Club in providing charitable services that address the various problems in communities and impact lives of the downtrodden positively. "Inner Wheel club is meant to make friends and help the indigent ones across the world without discrimination,” she said, Citing the case of the Law student whom the Club helped with his law school fees recently.

She disclosed that it was on that premise that they assisted a law graduate to enable him pursue his career shortly after her installation on July 12, 2024 “In these ways, we do assist government in ameliorating the sufferings of the poor ones as its officials cannot do everything alone" she added. IWM Okah further said that the annual global event usually held between 3rd July and 4th August that each club was free to choose any day within the bracket for its own celebration. She explained that the celebration was an opportunity to reflect on the various charitable services of the Club for the year including building houses for widows, training of indigent children in schools, providing people with skills acquisition among others. IWM Grace Ezeali and IWM Mabel Udude, the Presidents of Inner Wheel Clubs of Abakaliki South and Abakaliki Central respectively said that Inner Wheel produces empathic to people who always look out for help especially the downtrodden and think of how to help them. They appealed to other public spirited organizations and persons to emulate the Club in reaching out to the poor mostly in this period of general hardship. On her part, one of the invitees and intending member, Mrs. Henrietta Uzoma Ikpor supported the appeal and added that her interest of identifying with them was captured by the humanitarian activities of the Club and the positive disposition of the members. Past District Chairman, Tyna Okpaleke, exhorted members to practise genuine friendship by feeling the heartbeat of their friends bearing in mind that God would judge all men on the sole criterion of love - love of God and love of fellow human beings. “It is only when we practice genuine love and friendship that we would be able to feel our friends' heartbeat and be propelled to render assistance either in words of encouragement or action" she said. Addressing the Press, the District Editor, IWM Nonye Muoneke, who hosted the event stressed on the significance of Friendship Day Celebration which according to her was instituted by the United Nations in 1911. She disclosed that the Day held special meaning for Inner Wheel being that friendship and services are the core values of the Club. "Indeed, friendship is the touchstone of Inner Wheel Club such that if there was no International Friendship Day, Inner Wheel would have invented one for humanity, if there was no word to define friendship, the word inner-wheel would have sufficed and if there were no friends in the world, Inner Wheel could have supplied one for every man" she explained. "Additionally, this year’s Friendship Celebration resonates even more poignantly with us in Inner Wheel on account of the Club’s theme of focus for action in the year: Heartbeat of humanity, Every beat counts, Every action matters and this challenges every Inner Wheel member to live out the Club’s mission of compassion, unity and shared commitment to make the world a better place in the spirit of true friendship.” The District Editor recalled that International Inner Wheel President, Mamta Gupta, in a goodwill message to members to mark the occasion had charged each member to invite a friend to the celebration of the Friendship Day as a membership growth and recruitment strategy. In the words of the International President, “let us take this opportunity to grow our Inner Wheel family, I encourage you to bring one of your friends into your Club for the celebration under the slogan, Membership Growth – Each One Bring One. By so doing we can double our membership and amplify our impact in our communities.” Howbeit, the Celebration witnessed the participation of several invited friends in line with the International President's call with more than 10 of them vowing to join the association at the earliest opportunity. In a vote of thanks at the occasion, PDC Beth Oluka expressed appreciation to the host, IWM Nonye Muoneke for the sumptuous entertainment and commended members for turning out en masse which had invariably helped in making the celebration a memorable one. Highlights of the colourful event included the distribution of Red Roses of Friendship to members and invited friends by District 914 Chairman, IWM Deborah Okah, handover of Clubs’ Executives, singing of Inner Wheel song - Vivele Inner Wheel, group photographs amongst others. IWM Nonye Muoneke District Editor.