By Chinyere Nnaemeka
A non governmental global organization; The Gratia Vobis Ministries, lnc, USA founded by Rev Fr Maurice Emelu has through one of the supporters of their projects; the Pauline Sisters of West African Publication on Wednesday, provided pupils of Central School 1 Umuchima in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State with educational materials.
The Ministry has today, Thursday, July 10 2025, also put all machineries in place to hold a renowned programme of feeding, financially supporting 1,000 Nigerian families of 5 persons each, making it 5,000 beneficiaries. The 5000 beneficiaries are drawn from the 5 South East States – Enugu, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Abia States.
Addressing the pupils during the distribution of the books was Rev Sister Oluwa Kemi, who spoke on behalf of the Daughters of St Paul Congregation or Pauline Sisters, pointed out that part of their work is to partner with Ministries like the Gratia Vobis Ministries to educate children on the right thing to do, and observe.
She noted that children are abused, and they want their children to learn to guard themselves from such abuse, which is why they have come with some of the materials; Jingo the Stammer and other stories, My Body is Sacred Don’t Destroy, Hygiene for Kids and Care for the Environment, among others, to educate the children on protecting themselves and keeping their environment clean.
She further appreciated the teachers for all they do for the pupils and urged them to keep up the good work.
Speaking earlier, the GVM founder, Rev. Fr. Maurice Emelu, who earlier took the Catholic Bishop of Minna, Niger State and Ministry’s Spiritual Director, Bishop Martin Uzoukwu, the Ministry members both home and abroad, the President of the Ministry; Paul Verderber, and his wife MaryAnn Verderber, the Ministry’s foreign media crew, the Pauline Sisters of West African Publications, among others to where the 1100 bags (50 kg) of rice were packed, and ready for distribution today to the poor and vulnerable families who he described as VIPs – Very Important Personalities, pointed out that as a ministry, they believe in Education, which is why they have come to visit the school.
He continued that they believe that if you educate people, and they in turn educate others, together we can change the narratives, adding that this can be achieved when people have a better environment to study and have good instructional materials to work with.
He therefore assured the principal of the school; Mrs Duru Josephine who was appreciative of their visit, of seeing where he will come in to assist the school further.
For today’s event, the Reverend Father who is also an Associate Professor of Communication & Digital Media at John Carroll University, US for today’s event averred,”I am delighted to be here, to be part of the community ones again, not just as a way to give handout, but as a way to treat people with dignity, because that’s the inspiration to this whole initiative. God put it in my heart years back to say how can you celebrate a unique time in your life.
“This year is the year of the church as Pope Francis calls it the Jubilee of Hope, in which the Holy Father, and the whole Church is invited to look at the poor with special care. So in my own Ministry, Gratia Vobis Ministries, INCs we decided to do this as part of what God has laid in my heart, which is, how we can treat the poor as kings and queens. The society calls them the poor, but in my own Ministry we call them, the VIPs – Very Important Personalities. That’s why the theme of this event is, God’s VIPs, the Jubilee of Hope.
“The bags of rice are ready for distribution to the beneficiary families. So we are going to give each of the 1100 families one bag of 50 kg quality rice, money, and equally give them some red carpet reception treatment in a tent like a banquet, where they will be served food as kings and queens. They don’t have to queue up to receive the grains, as it will be taken to their houses with the buses sent out to convey them here.
“This is one of our ways of putting smiles on people’s faces, and to tell them they are very important no matter their status in the society. There are other people we will give scholarships and other institutions we intend building to bequeath others with the skills they needed to be economically independent.
” I am not interested in politics. This is one of our ways of supporting the government, whose role is to put up infrastructures that will enable businesses thrive, and empower people to aid build a nation of our dreams,’Emelu stated’
He further advised Nigerians saying, “Let’s have the mindset of thinking of what Jesus will do in every situation which will help us see life from a better and different perceptive”.
Speaking to News men also, the President of Gratia Vobis Ministries, INC, Paul Verderber, with his wife, MaryAnn Verderber said they are delighted to be in Nigeria to witness the outreach commitments to humanity and the society at large.
Verderbers applauded Father Maurice Emelu for his philanthropic vision and mission, assuring that the NGO will never relent in her endeavours of uplifting humanity and the society at large.
They thanked the people for their hospitality, and expressed their love for the country Nigeria.
Speaking also,the Catholic Bishop of Minna Niger State, Bishop Martin Uzoukwu, asserted,”I am here to bless the people, and celebrate Mass. We should love one another as Christ loved us. It is Jesus Christ that has empowered Father Maurice to do this through his Ministry, and I love the idea that he sees the poor as God’s VIP.
“Others should emulate his gestures and equally see a way to reach out to the poor and vulnerable ones in the society, by building factories that will provide jobs to the people, so that they could stop begging on the streets.
A Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Orlu, and General Coordinator of the event, Rev. Fr. Cyriacus Uzochukwu, who is based in the United Kingdom also reiterated that they are feeding people they call, God’s VIP, stressing that the arrangements have been seamlessly perfected.
“We took into consideration the health and safety of every person, did the risk assessment, and so have medical teams on standby for the main event on Thursday. We carefully selected the people and made such it is truly for people that need the support.
“We have luxurious buses conveying the people who have been properly accredited for the event. We are giving out 1100 bags of 50kg quality rice to the people, which the buses will convey to their destination where it will be shared,’Uzochukwu averred
Describing Father Maurice as a dedicated honest priest, who has the interest of people at heart, reiterated that the programme is geared towards sending a message of hope to the people, making them understand that they comprehend the challenges they are facing.
“We don’t want them to feel being neglected due to their challenges in life, and so we want to support the government in improving their welfare and cushioning the effect of hunger witnessed in the country”.
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