“No Money in Your Office? Then Resign,” Ebonyi Commissioner Tells Appointees

Ebonyi State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Oguzor Offia-Nwali, has issued a stern challenge to political appointees under Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration, urging them to resign if they cannot adequately support their constituents.

According to him, the frequent excuse of having “no money in the office” is no justification for failing in leadership responsibilities. Speaking on Thursday at Community Secondary School, Okposhi Umuoghara, Ezza North Local Government Area, during the official flag-off of the Dr. Divine Igwe Impact Foundation, Offia-Nwali emphasized that leadership must be defined by accessibility, capacity, and genuine impact on the people.

He insisted that governance is about service, not complaints, and commended the foundation for demonstrating the essence of purposeful leadership.

Delivering his keynote address, the Founder of the Foundation, Dr. Divine Okemefuna Igwe, outlined his vision for a society where every individual, regardless of background, can access quality healthcare, education, and opportunities for personal and economic advancement. He described the launch as “a movement for sustainable change, empowerment, and hope,” aimed at transforming lives across Ebonyi State and beyond.

Dr. Igwe highlighted several humanitarian strides already recorded by the Foundation, including educational support for 18 students, housing interventions worth millions of naira for vulnerable families, the enrollment of over 5,000 children into the state health insurance scheme, and the registration of 1,000 pregnant women for maternal and newborn healthcare services. He added that the next phase would sponsor 13 students from Ezza North with a total investment of ₦3,250,000 to expand access to education.

In the area of youth and sports development, Igwe announced plans to organize a football tournament across the 11 wards of Ezza North, with an estimated cost exceeding ₦5 million. The initiative, he said, aims to promote unity, nurture local talent, and positively engage young people. Appealing for stronger collaboration, the Founder stressed that sustainable impact requires combined efforts from government agencies, private bodies, international partners, and community stakeholders. “No foundation, regardless of its fervor, can achieve its mission in isolation,” he said. Earlier in his remarks as Chairman of the occasion, Commissioner Offia-Nwali commended Dr. Igwe for his exceptional commitment to humanitarian service and encouraged well-meaning individuals to support the Foundation’s initiatives. Also speaking, the National President of the Dr. Divine Igwe Impact Foundation, Dr. Ibiam Azu, affirmed the organization’s readiness to improve lives through quality healthcare, education, agriculture, sports, and broad economic empowerment. The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Samson Nwafor, applauded Dr. Igwe for his vision and prayed for divine blessings upon his efforts to uplift youths. The event was attended by top government officials and community leaders, including the Chairman of Ezza North LGA, Mr. Moses Ogodoali Nome, and the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Victor Uzoma Nwite, among other dignitaries, many of whom supported the Foundation financially and materially.