30 Nov 2024 NEWS (Vanguard and BluePrint) – Ifediora (OCI Foundation’s President) named Nigerian Diaspora Humanitarian of the Year (Nov 2024)
IFEDIORA NAMED NIGERIAN DIASPORA HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR
Courtesy of BluePrint News: https://blueprint.ng/ifediora-named-nigerian-diaspora-humanitarian-of-the-year/.
The founder of the Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) Foundation International has been honoured with multiple prestigious awards across Nigeria over a three-week period between October and November 2024.
The most notable recognition was the award of “Nigerian Diaspora Humanitarian of the Year”, which Dr. Ifediora received at the 6th Edition of the Leadership Excellence (LEEX) Awards held on November 2, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria.
Garnering the highest votes for this category, he was represented at the star-studded event by Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Rufai, the OCI Foundation’s Networking Manager.
Igbere TV News, the organizers of this national event that celebrated 40 distinguished Nigerians from various spheres of life, described Dr. Ifediora as a “visionary leader” whose humanitarian contributions extend across Nigeria, Australia, and beyond.
They also highlighted his academic and professional experiences spanning four continents.
Earlier, on October 19, 2024, Dr. Ifediora was presented with an “Award of Honour as a Trailblazer” by the Catholic Church at the Catholic Diocese of Awka in Anambra state, Nigeria. The recognition came during the “2024 Triennial Deanery Convention” organized by the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO), Abagana Deanery. The award’s inscription celebrated Dr. Ifediora as a “visionary leader who paves [the] way for others to follow” and whose courage inspires confidence.
In yet another event, Dr. Ifediora was honored with an “Education Philanthropy Award” for his “Outstanding Contribution to Health and Philanthropy in Education” by the Inter-University Consortium – Africa (IC-Africa). This award was presented on November 8, 2024, during the Ninth International Interdisciplinary Conference (IIC9) hosted at the Igbariam Campus of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra State. Lady Ogechi Efobi, a member of the OCI Foundation’s Anambra Advocacy Team, accepted the award on his behalf.
IFEDIORA BAGS DIASPORA HUMANITARIAN AWARD; CHAMPIONS EDUCATION, HEALTH REFORM IN NIGERIA
Courtesy: Vanguard Nigeria; https://www.vanguardngr.com/2024/11/ifediora-bags-diaspora-humanitarian-award-champions-education-health-reform-in-nigeria/
ABUJA – Dr. Chris Ifediora, founder of the Onyebuchi Chris Ifediora (OCI) Foundation, has won the Nigerian ‘Diaspora Humanitarian of the Year’ at the 6th edition of the Leadership Excellence (LEEX) Awards in Abuja.
Ifediora received the highest number of votes for the award, recognizing his humanitarian impact across Nigeria, Australia, and beyond.
The ceremony, which celebrated 40 Nigerians from various sectors, acknowledged his leadership in health, education, and social welfare through the OCI Foundation.
Alhaji Abdullahi Aliyu Rufai, Networking Manager of the OCI Foundation, represented Ifediora at the event and lauded his visionary leadership.
The foundation’s work spans critical health initiatives, including breast and cervical cancer awareness, alongside educational scholarships aimed at supporting disadvantaged students. These efforts have made a significant impact both in Nigeria and abroad.
This recognition follows Ifediora’s receipt of an ‘Award of Honour as a Trailblazer’ by the Catholic Women Organization of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Anambra State, in acknowledgment of his role as a visionary leader who paves the way for others to follow.
He also received the ‘Education Philanthropy Award’ at the Ninth International Interdisciplinary Conference held at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra, honoring his contributions to health and education.
In a chat with journalists, Dr. Ifediora discussed the expansion of the OCI Foundation’s scholarship programme, which now includes recipients from across Nigeria, broadening its impact beyond Anambra State.
According to him, the foundation also continues to offer a literary award to medical students, encouraging research and academic excellence.
Ifediora stressed the importance of education in empowering Nigeria’s youth and its role in tackling health challenges, including vaccine hesitancy and cancer prevention.
Dr. Ifediora also shared that the foundation has successfully passed two legislative bills through the National Assembly, which are now awaiting presidential assent.
Despite challenges such as funding shortages and navigating bureaucracy, Ifediora remains committed to addressing Nigeria’s health and educational challenges, aiming for sustainable and wide-reaching reforms.
He said, “Many classmates dropped out because they couldn’t afford to continue, often due to losing a parent. Even in medical school, many struggled to pay tuition and other expenses. Poverty threatens young people who could contribute to the country’s development. These experiences motivated our scholarship schemes.
“Education empowers millions of young Nigerians in a sustainable way. It is a key vehicle for promoting health.
“In terms of health, we have two legislative bills that have passed through the National Assembly and are awaiting presidential assent.
“Vaccine hesitancy is a major issue in Nigeria, and by providing knowledge, we can encourage people to support government initiatives on preventive measures.
“We also offer a literary award for undergraduate medical students in Nigerian institutions, which has been ongoing for about 4-5 years. The aim is to inspire students to develop literary and research skills that will help them become more productive doctors.
“Some of the biggest challenges in my philanthropic journey include unrealistic expectations from those we aim to help. People may assume we’re funded by Western countries and expect a share of a perceived large budget, which can threaten the program’s sustainability.
“Another challenge is navigating government bureaucracy to implement sustainable, wide-reaching, and cost-effective policies. Lastly, funding is a significant issue. Running a philanthropic organization is expensive, especially in a place like Nigeria where the needs and demands for funds are endless.”
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