Once you type in Charles Kenechukwu Ojukwu on google search engine to look at what we have online about this phenomenal young Anambra son from Abatete in Idemili north, the most ranking publication you would see with his name is that of Charles Kenechukwu Ojukwu Initiative (CKOi) foundation.

Before we delve into the activities of the CKOi foundation, it is necessary that we look at the person of the CEO of the foundation and what his trajectory through life has been.

Some years back as early as the year 2009, the Abatete born. 1989 born, Nnamdi Azikiwe University trained medical doctor was already active in the undergraduate politics.

During his undergraduate days as a medical student, he contested for the position of public relations officer against his senior in medical school then which was not a routine practice, for which he won his polling unit at Okofia, Otolo Nnewi campus convincingly. College of health sciences Nnamdi Azikiwe university has two campuses being the Okofia and NAUTH Nnewiichi campuses.

Being one who does not believe in keeping to status quo especially when such is not in the best interest of the system, he rose from the rank of being elected as a clerk of the student’s representative council (SRC) to being the speaker of the house. As the speaker, he met a house that was not functioning with any legislative tool (maze and gavel). He endeavored not to leave that office as speaker without making sure that he provided those legislative tools before the expiration of his tenure. This provision was funded with his allowance as the speaker then and partly from his pocket money as an undergraduate. Dr. Ojukwu later served the student union government as the electoral council chairman and the chairman of the presidential advisory council. He was a special adviser and a confidant of the then SUG president.

He later became a special adviser to one of his trusted allies and brother, Imo state born former student union president Dr. Nwaeju Ifeanyi who is also the son of a teacher.

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Dr. Nwaeju, is a few steps away from becoming a consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Nnamdi Azikiwe university teaching hospital, Nnewi Anambra state amidst having acquired international certifications to practice as a medical doctor overseas and a Ph.D. in microbiology.

With sound counsel and overwhelming support from men like Dr. Charles Ojukwu in the corner of the then student union government leader, the President verifiably left office as one of the best leaders of the student union government at that time with an impeccable record of excellence and many landmark achievements which one of which was uniting undergraduates of faculty of health sciences, faculty of medicine and faculty of basic medical sciences was one of them.

While speaking with Dr. Charles Kenechukwu Ojukwu, whose father was a civil servant and a mother who was a primary school teacher, he made it clear that his values were influenced by the modest lives of his parents.

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Dr. Charles was very clear about his life philosophy which emphasized “investing in public good and public sorting over self-sorting”.

He stated it clearly that he is most committed to investing in public good whenever it comes to his community and the society at large. He is a man who believes that instead of using all he has earned to sort himself only or to use any access he has to public office to loot the masses silly, that it is in his best interest to help develop his community (public good), support public managed institutions to be optimally functional in the interest of the larger public.

The CEO CKOi foundation explained that public sorting is the philosophy behind the most recent medical outreach his non-governmental organisation held for the people of Abatete which was fully funded by him.

While he interacted with our correspondent, he made an illustration to illustrate the importance of investing in the society for public good/sorting.

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Dr. Ojukwu, a husband and father of two (2) painted a narrative of a wealthy man who visits the village for some social functions but unfortunately develops a medical emergency, such that such a person would need to be stabilized first before being flown out of the community in a chopper or air ambulance.

He argued that such a person can only survive such emergency or crisis if there is a functional health institution within reach, where this patient can be stabilized before being air lifted to seek a sort of more sophisticated form of care.

The founder of CKOi, believes strongly that if such a man who can afford the services of an air ambulance was deliberate enough to have galvanized resources earlier to fix the medical institution in his community probably with the necessary partnerships from other well-meaning people in the community, that such would have given such a patient a fighting chance at life. To Dr. Charles, community service is his own way of serving God almighty.

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The CEO of CKOi foundation made it clear that investing in public sorting is a selfish thing to even do as it shields and protects one from the harsh realities of having terrible experiences with no one being capable enough to assist or no institution being functional enough to give these patients a fighting chance at life incase of an emergency.

Having practised medicine across the globe and knowing the direct implication of having a healthy population, the CKOi foundation embarks on annual health outreach programmes to the people of Anambra state spanning various communities.

This medical outreach of 2024 was conducted in Abatete, Anambra state in partnership with the southeast zone of the Nigerian medical student’s association (NiMSA) and the Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu university medical students’ association. They attended to over two hundred (200) participants.

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The impact of the outreach was phenomenal on the community as these patients were enlightened intensely on healthy life practises, staying health conscious, knowing of their blood pressure, blood glucose, HIV status and some few other serological marker realities, dispensing of routine drugs, provision of mosquito nets and a lot more.

For those patients who needed to follow up with their physicians for proper care, they were directed to link up with the community health facility where they would be followed up and the needful done in the long-term interest of their health.

There are also well mapped out plan by the foundation in the years to come to support the community health centre in Abatete in ways that are strategic with the aim of offering high quality health services to those who can access care at such facilities.

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Knowing that the CKOi foundation has as much as forty-eight (48) beneficiaries comprising of pupils, students and undergraduates who are enrolled in the scholarship scheme from the foundation is a thing to be very cheerful for.

The CKOi foundation CEO made it clear that the criteria to remain eligible for further academic support from the foundation remains that you must be seen to have passed all your courses in the previous academic session.

This is a verifiable way to encourage hardwork among the beneficiaries while offering them a lifetime of opportunities to be whom they want to be through education.

Finally with CKOi foundation structuring its organisational interests to align with goals III (good health and wellbeing), IV (quality education),  XVI (peace, justice and strong institutions) of the sustainable development goals (SDG), it is clear that many more Africans especially those gainfully employed in the diaspora who can afford to sacrifice in such manner to have a better society in Africa takes a cue from this organisation- CKOi foundation, as we can have a more equitable society where the masses are well educated, while living their best lives in terms of health and at the same time asking the all-important questions about what their resources are being used for by the political class, by so doing.

We can make our society better, by sacrificially serving our communities or mobilizing like minds to offer thankless services to humanity. Dr. Charles Ojukwu is a traditional chieftaincy title holder in Abatete where he is known as Chief Okunenyeife (the light that illuminates) na Abatete.

Hopefully in the years to come, CKOi foundation partners with Anambra state health insurance agency (ASHIA) to provide routine all year-round care to the beneficiaries.