The New Year began on a note of compassion and renewed hope in Imo North Senatorial District as High Chief Duru Mike Ejiogu turned his Obi Udo Palace in Anara, Isiala Mbano Local Government Area, into a centre of relief and celebration through his annual distribution of food palliatives.
On Thursday, January 1, 2026, the respected community leader and real estate mogul donated 3,000 bags of rice to communities across the six local government areas of Imo North Senatorial District — Isiala Mbano, Ehime Mbano, Onuimo, Okigwe, Ihitte Uboma, and Obowo — with allocations also extended to community leaders and vulnerable families. The outreach, which has become a yearly tradition since 2017, is driven by a personal commitment to ensure that families begin each year with dignity, smiles, and renewed strength.
At the palace, over 1,200 residents from Isiala Mbano and other parts of the Okigwe zone gathered for the event. Beyond receiving food items, beneficiaries were hosted to meals in an atmosphere marked by warmth, unity, and celebration, reinforcing the spirit of community and shared humanity.
The event attracted notable dignitaries, including traditional rulers, political leaders, and party officials, all of whom commended the consistency and impact of the initiative. The distribution was carried out under the Mike Ejiogu Foundation, with additional support from Princess Chika Hope Uzodimma, who donated ₦2 million to further strengthen the outreach and expand its reach.
Speaking during the event, High Chief Ejiogu stressed that leadership is defined by service, not status, and by the ability to ease burdens and restore hope. He described the annual distribution not as a one-off act of charity, but as a sustained promise to his people — a responsibility he has faithfully upheld for seven consecutive years.
For many beneficiaries, the New Year palliative distribution has become a lifeline and a moment they look forward to each year. For the wider community, it served as a powerful reminder that compassion, when consistently practiced, can transform lives and strengthen societies — one act of kindness, and one bag of rice, at a time.
