Fostering Hopes Foundation Celebrates 1st Anniversary at Okpanam Market

•••as excited traders sing to appreciate ED Nkechi Ukome

By Patrick Ochei 

It was a moment of joy at the Iyanga market in Okpanam, Oshimili North LGA of Delta State, as excited traders joined members of the Fostering Hopes Foundation to mark their first anniversary celebration.

The event which took place on Saturday 20th September, 2025, drew so much attention after the market women and men had listened to the story behind the Foundation and its accomplishments in a space of one year, and especially as they received a gift of aprons from the Foundation.

With no holds back, the women sang joyfully to appreciate the Canadian based Executive Director of the Foundation, Nkechi Ukome who had within one year, worked tirelessly to empower 12 families with business grants of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira each and 40 children put on the Foundation's scholarship scheme from nursery to secondary for every of the listed children.

Speaking earlier on the mission of Fostering Hopes Foundation, the Program Director in charge of Education Opportunities and Empowerment, Pastor Mrs. Ethel Uto had asked the women whose children risk drop out of schools as a result of abandonment due to lack of money to speak up and get help.

She said, this is not a period to keep quiet and die in silence in a troubled home, stressing that Foundations such as Fostering Hopes had been set up not only to advocate for family bonding and preservation, but also to assist families with their children who may be facing educational challenges due to lack of care as a result of economic and psychological factors in the home.

Pastor Uto said, "Children are at the core of our existential function and obligation in Fostering Hopes Foundation; and for such reason, we do not only support their parents with business grants but also take up the educational needs of the children. This is in line with our core mandate to help secure protection and development rights of the children in accordance with the Child Rights Act of 2003. So, reach out to us, let's see how we can help you", Uto posited.

Meanwhile, in that spirit of ecstasy having a Foundation that is truly organic and sincere with its activities, the women sang, prayed and appreciated the brain behind this hope lifting Godly interventions - Nkechi Ukome.

The only man among the almost 50 women who received the gift of aprons, Diokpa Peter Chuks Ogwuma from Okpanam, said he felt so pleased to witness such a story-telling event about the kind gestures and good deeds of Nkechi Ukome and her team. He therefore prayed God to continue to enlarge her coast as well as reward her with a gift of long life to continue to impact lives positively.