Any idea how people without shelter know the difference between day and night? Whether in the day or at night, whether in cold or hot weather, they have no roof over their heads. They are friendly with risks and familiar with danger. If the sun generates tears from their eyes during the day, they are sure the rain will wash the tears away at night. Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno found conjectures to these questions. He has come to wash the shame away from the homeless through the ARISE Compassionate Homes Initiative, a programme targeted at building homes for the homeless across Akwa Ibom State.
Shelter is one of the basic needs of humanity. However, many remain homeless because they cannot afford homes to stay.
The problem of homelessness knows no barriers and continents. World over, the struggle to combat this awful problem includes Africa, which parades countries with the highest homelessness rates.
According to World Population Review, Nigeria, for instance, has the world’s greatest number of homeless people. Within the nation, 24 million people reportedly do not have homes. This reality is mostly faced by the poorest of the poor. Poverty precedes and gives rise to homelessness, among other socio-economic challenges.
A life without a home is as good as not living. For what is life without a home? Home is where love springs from. That is why it always feels good to leave home and feel better to return because home is where love resides, memories are created and laughter never ends. Those without a home cannot experience this colourful side of life.
In Akwa Ibom State, Governor Umo Eno is deliberate and passionate about providing homes for those whose circumstances of life have deprived them of such a bright side of living. The governor has excavated the dungeon of poverty, destroying pillars of shame and raising the bars of joy and happiness through the ARISE Compassionate Homes Initiative.
Under the programme, 400 houses are to be built for the poorest of the poor in four years. This will cut across the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
Already, the houses have started to spring up like mushrooms in the 31 local government areas of the State. Some have already reached roofing levels.
A leader with a golden heart, Governor Eno is concerned about widows and the less privileged and their children. He believes these people also deserve a good life.
The initiative took off on a fair note devoid of any political sentiments. A team from the humanitarian office was commissioned to visit all the local government areas in the State and select the worst situations for consideration.
Those selected have two-bedroom houses built for them with solar lights and boreholes.
Governor Eno is equally using the ARISE Compassionate Homes project to create jobs for the people in the respective local government areas. This is because the contractors for the job come from that environment, and it keeps the local artisans gainfully busy.
Even at the various levels of completion, the ARISE Homes have already endeared the governor to the people. Torrents of testimonies pour in daily as residents and observers often throng sites of the new homes to see the unbelievable but well-thought-out initiative of the governor and hail him as an advocate of the poor, who has salvaged them from the jaws of poverty for a good life.
Yet, the Mr Compassion Governor is not relenting. By his words and actions, it can be safely deducted that it is for the welfare of the poorest of the poor that he came; and of the truth, their lives have never been the same again.
When the homes are fully ready to be handed over to the owners, and they close their eyes and open them to confirm that it was not in a dream that they have become owners of well-furnished houses, it will be said that Governor Umo Eno makes dreams to become reality.
And when the tears of joy shall roll down their cheeks, for once, they will not be washed away by the rains that hitherto beat them due to the vicissitudes of life. It will be clear to them that a new phase has just begun in their lives, a chapter written in gold by the golden governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Governor Umo Eno has taken away their tears, their shame, and their agony through the ARISE Compassionate Homes project, and beautiful homes are springing like mushrooms across Akwa Ibom State.
The Governor has given the poor great support to Arise and Shine.
