By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

In a feat of human kindness, the former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh, over the weekend, settled N10 million medical bills of indigent patients at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi.

He also donated care funds to elderly men and women in the community aged 75 and above.

The gesture according to him, is part of his decision to commit 50 percent of his assets to charity and benevolence, as well as part of activities marking his 60th birthday celebration which was held at his country home in Otolo, Nnewi, in Nnewi North Local Government Area of the state.

The 60th birthday activities commenced with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Nnewi Diocese, Most Rev. Jonas Benson Okoye, at Metuh’s residence in Umuanuka, Otolo, Nnewi.

During the Thanksgiving, Metuh expressed profound gratitude to God for His grace and mercy over the past six decades.

He explained that his philanthropic outreach is rooted in a long-standing personal commitment to giving back to humanity in appreciation of God’s blessings upon his life. He reaffirmed that 50 percent of his assets has been dedicated to charity and benevolence.

Meanwhile, the major highlight of the week-long celebration, which began on Thursday, was Friday’s endowment of hundreds of millions of naira for various philanthropic projects which include, clearance of medical debts owed by indigent patients at NAUTH; provision of care funds for the elderly (75 years and above); and the distribution of cash gifts and essential items to widows and persons living with disabilities in Nnewi.

He also donated bags of rice and other food items, as well as distributing economic-empowerment equipment such as grinding machines, sewing machines, vulcanizing pumps, generator sets, and hairdressing tools worth millions of naira to community members as well as cash grants to petty traders, artisans, and skilled workers across Nnewi and its environs.

Offering words of advice to the younger generation, Metuh said: “I would advise young people to take life easier because what will be, will be.”

The former National publicity secretary used the occasion of his birthday that will wrap up on Sunday with a special church service in Abuja, to visit the Old Priests’ Home at the Blessed Iwene Tansi Priest Centre on Thursday, and donated various food items and cash to support their medical needs.

He also visited the Nnewi Correctional Centre where he donated food items and essential supplies to inmates.

At the Correctional Centre, Metuh announced a scholarship programme for inmates up to university level and paid the fines of those convicted of minor offences, even as he commissioned a water project he built for the facility, while pledging to construct a world-class skill-acquisition centre once the necessary approvals are granted.

He further paid a visit to children with special needs and disability at St. Andrew’s Church, DCC Nnewi and distributed crutches, wheelchairs, toiletries, mattresses, food items, with cash donations to support their diverse needs.