My dear Owerre Nkworji Sisters,
I will not give you a long speech today. The most important thing I will share with you all is that there is plenty to celebrate today. We shall all eat to our satisfaction, and we will all be filled even beyond the needs of this day!
The intent of inviting you here today is to thank you for the job which you have done so well. This includes those who showed up for screening, those who were screened, and those who conducted the actual screening and tabulated the data. It also includes those who were diagnosed sick, and who, therefore, received medications, shots, and so forth. The idea of feeling and getting well is no small fit.
Let me explain our project in layman’s terms. I intend to make you all relevant. In my sister’s Introduction of me, she informed you that when I first arrived in the United States I came home and declared that everyone needs to experience the U.S. So, each one of you is eligible to experience the United States – either, physically, spiritually or through the database/s we have created to use. When we share these data, we will be requesting funds from the grantors to help us attend to all your health needs. We are talking about attracting US dollars, not simply Naira. {People started applauding}
So, consider The Garden of HOPE as A Promise. Not of me or man, but God’s promise that you would be hopeful and hunger no more. As of today, you will be fed twice, once during this ceremony, and later during Nze Emma’s ceremony. {More Applause by the people}.
That’s all the message I have for you today! Thank you all for coming!
My brethren, I share this story with you in our native language of Igbo so that you my people may listen and gain full understanding. Wherever there’s a need for translation or use of English, I shall do so as needed.
It was right at the end of the Biafran War. My family would be considered one of the lucky ones since none of us suffered the normal illness of malnutrition called Kwashiorkor. However, we could not escape the disease called ignorance. See, it was the disease of ignorance that killed my little brother.