Chidimma Afulezi: Succour To The Downtrodden

Can you tell us about yourself?

My name is Favour Chidimma Afulezi. I am from Umuorisha Umuohiagu, Ngor Okpala Local Government Area in Imo State. I had my primary education at Mater Amabilis Nursery and Primary School Orlu, Isu Njaba in Imo State and my secondary education at Southland International Secondary School Aba in Abia State. Presently, I’m an undergraduate of Mass Communication, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri Imo State and I’m into building materials business.

What is the inspiration behind your charity works?

The passion to stand for the less privileged children out there. I could remember five years ago, I was 19 years old then, when I started visiting the children at the orphanage. Each time I visited I had nothing to give to them. I saw people come to the orphanage with loads of gifts for the children while I will be at a corner thinking of how to be visiting more with plenty gifts to give to the children.  I usually snap pictures with them, post them on my social media page, explaining to people how these children needed their love and attention then few of my family members started giving me money to use and cook for them since I spend most of my weekends at the orphanage home. Due to the way I played with the children most of them loved sharing their life experiences with me, especially the grown girls there. They told me how hard and tough life seemed to be for them and how the society sees them. It got to an extent that I don’t stay a week without visiting the orphanage homes, some of my friends started thinking maybe I was also an orphan and started questioning me which made me to stop visiting the orphanage homes for some time and started visiting beggars on the streets. So through my social media page my friends were dashing me money since they noticed I spend the money more on the less privileged. From there before I knew it I started building houses for the widows and boom! it turned out to be the beginning of my NGO (Nma Millionaire Heart Foundation) a name a child gave me during one of my several visits to the orphanage home, Millionaire Aunty that always brought food for us, “Aunty odi ka I bu millionaire ooo” he said in Igbo dialect, which means Aunty it seems you are a millionaire.

How long have you been into this?

The NGO should be like 6 years now but I got the Foundation registered around September 2018,

Going through your social media page, I observed that you have been building homes for the homeless, how have you been able to achieve this?

I have been able to do this through the help of my wonderful donors who God is using both here in Nigeria and abroad to bless my Foundation.

How many houses have you built and their locations?

It should be about 10 houses. We have Two at Abajah in Nwangele LGA, both are Three Bedroom Bungalows. Two at Ngor Okpala LGA, Two Bedroom Bungalows each. Two at Umuhu in Ikeduru LGA, Two Bedroom Bungalow and One Bedroom Bungalow. One at Ihiagwa in Owerri West LGA, One Bedroom Bungalow which is our first building project. Two at Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Two Bedroom Bungalow and the Four Bedroom Bungalow we are building currently with a borehole as well.

How does it feel to know that lives are impacted through you?

Whenever I see the cry of joy from the people we have elevated, it makes me feel happy and motivated to do more and I have no regrets at all.

Most of the communities you have built homes for the down trodden, how do the prominent people there feel knowing that they couldn’t do that for their people?

Well some of them appreciate it but most of them see it as a slap on their personality.

Have you received any grants from international bodies to support your works?

None.

What are the challenges you are faced with?

Firstly, it was funds to keep helping the less privileged but God keeps surprising me like he is always there to provide. Secondly, most times the prominent men from the communities we have built homes always see that as a slap on their faces and whenever I make a post about a particular less privileged person that needs shelter, they see it as an insult to them, so they try their best to prevent me from exposing the person that needs shelter in other to protect their image. 

I have several cases like that especially here in Imo State. Thirdly, we have been reaching out to the less privileged with public transport and it’s not been easy to operate effectively without a vehicle of our own. You see most of the NGOs here in Nigeria are really facing a lot of funds challenge, that’s why most of the NGOs find it difficult to reach out to millions of less privileged persons out there but we will keep on appealing to well-meaning Nigerians to keep supporting us.

There are so many illegal NGOs out there that are not serving the charity purposes they claim; how do you think they can be curbed?

I think the government should set a standard where detailed purpose of operation and area of concentration will be outlined at the Corporate Affairs Commission, where these NGOs are being registered, if any doesn’t meet up the standard then there is no need registering such organization, it will go a long way to flush out many mushroom NGOs from existence.

How have you been coping with your studies and your humanitarian works?

Honestly, it has not been easy for me but I thank God that I’m coping well. My lectures have been quite understanding because most of them know that I’m into charity works and I try as much as I can to prepare for my exams when its time. God has been faithful.

Can you describe who Nma is?

Nma is a humanitarian, a great philanthropist, a lover of children as well. I detest all forms of discrimination, and I believe in standing for the oppressed in the society.

Where do you see your Foundation in 5 years?

By the grace of God, 5 years from now I want to make sure that Nma Millionaire Heart Foundation has built 500 houses for all the homeless out there. I want to create a better life for those less privileged in our society.

As a very busy person, how do you unwind?

Oh! I love listening to music, watching movies and visiting the children at the orphanage.

What’s your favorite fashion item?

l love suits a lot.  I love to dress in corporate wears and also outfits that bring out my shape because people say I have a nice stature.

Really, so what do you do to maintain your shape?

Nothing much, I eat good food and take enough water.

May we know your favourite food?

Vegetable soup and fufu and chicken sauce and rice.

What’s your best quote?

Don’t mock people who seek for your help, if you know how quick God changes situation, you will never laugh at anyone.

What word of advice do you have for the young ones out there?

The should always believe in themselves,