I was called a mad man because poverty caused me to wear same shirt every day for months – Ibeleme, Amaechi’s aide
Mr Israel Chibueze Ibeleme is a media aide to the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi. Like any other young man in search of greener pastures, Ibeleme travelled from his Isiala-Oboro village in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State to Port Harcourt in 2003 to live with a cousin but he became homeless two years after when he was driven out of by his relation. From 2005 to 2008, he slept on the street in Rivers State capital while a transformer served as his wardrobe before a ‘Good Samaritan’ picked him up and dropped him in the Government House Port Harcourt.
Many people think living in Port Harcourt is like living in Paradise because the city flows with oil money? You lived there. How was the experience like? From 2003 and 2008, I lived in Port Harcourt without help. I became a photographer because that was the only way I could get food. I slept in the street in Rumuomoi opposite the transformer because I had been driven out of the house where I lived with a relative. There was a young man that sold electrical parts that always gave me cartons to sleep on whenever he closed from his shop. I would bath between12 midnight and 1am because I had to do it almost in the middle of the road and that was the best time to do it as traffic would have eased. One particular day I told God I was not looking for mattress, pillow or even coverlet to sleep, but just a roof over my head. The first wardrobe I had to keep my things was inside the transformer beside the open space where I always slept in the street. I had only one pair of shoes, one pair of trousers and a T-shirt. Everyone around the community knew me with the clothes. Sometimes I fed on N20 per day. People called me all kinds of names just because I always slept in the street. Life was miserable; people didn’t want me around them. Though I had a village I could go back to, I made up my mind I wasn’t returning there. I started street photography and I was making between N20 and N40 per day. To cut the long story short, there was never a time back then when I found something to eat when I needed it, but, in all of these, I was very close to God. Why Port Harcourt? Because I believed I could make it there. I didn’t tell my family what I was going through until my troubles were over. It was a difficult moment in my life. I was known as Eze the photographer. People called me a mad man, a demon because I kept wearing one shirt every day sometimes for six months. I always trekked to my destination in town, no matter how far, until God used somebody one day to change my story. And after my story changed, I always reflect on what my life used to be and what I went through and I know that someone somewhere is going through similar experience. I made a vow to God that if He removed me from abject poverty, I will do everything humanly possible to help those in need and that is why I initiated Israel Ibeleme Foundation. Memory of the past Every time, God kept showing me my past. One day, during prayer, I asked why and I got a reply. I understood that I had to go through tough times because God wants me to save lives. I don’t have millions to help people as I would have loved to, that is why I didn’t start the foundation in a big way. I started by using my ideas to help elderly people. When did the foundation take off? It all started in 2006 but not with money because I never dreamed that it will become a foundation. I have passion to do things for people; so I started washing the clothes of elderly women in Port Harcourt for free. From there I started cooking for them and they would pray for me. About two years after, God changed my story. Realising where I came from, I decided to help those in situations similar to mine between 2003 and 2008 years ago with the little I have. With time the foundation grew bigger to the point it is now virtually bigger than me. What is the focus? The focus is to eliminate poverty. In 2013, 750 widows were empowered in Ikwuano, my local government area in Abia State. The beneficiaries were given sewing machines, cassava grinding machines and those whose businesses weren’t doing well got N50, 000 each and food items. I did the same thing in 2014 but what we gave out was mostly food items. In 2016, we did a programme in IDP camps. We also visited charity organizations and motherless babies’ homes. In 2017, we focused on education during which we reached out to 900 plus students in Gosa Junior Secondary School along Airport Road Abuja and gave them school bags, writing materials and text books. We also gave scholarship to six students. What about funding? No organization has given me funds but I have nice people around me, encouraging me. Meanwhile, anytime I receive salary or people give me money, I divide it into two parts and use one part for the project at the end of the year. I don’t live reckless lifestyle, so that gives me the latitude to save money to keep the foundation running. I have a student in final year in the university who has been funded by the foundation from his first year. Sourcing for funds? Yes, I have plans to do that now because the thing is virtually bigger than me and I can’t really fund it anymore alone. Your talent in photography apparently paid off I was just hard working and I like to work with passion. I don’t pretend, not looking for praise. I work for people like I work for myself and I put all my energy into whatever I do. What is your message to people out there? Let me start from those who have made it; I don’t want to be a seasonal rich man who has a big car but buys little fuel like a poor man. Art of giving There are some people who have everything they need but they can’t give out because they don’t have the spirit to give. I started giving at age 7. For those who have made it, they have to go back and remember people in need because the only way to sustain what God gives to you is by giving. For those still struggling, I was once like you. There are times when people will forsake you. I suffered a lot but I didn’t give up on God. God is watching you and will remember you one day. I will try as much as possible to help to alleviate poverty not just in Nigeria, my state, my local government but also across the world. We have to do that, everybody has to contribute. I don’t have much money to give because I am not a rich man but I have been giving.
Mr Israel Chibueze Ibeleme is a media aide to the Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi. Like any other young man in search of greener pastures, Ibeleme travelled from his Isiala-Oboro village in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State to Port Harcourt in 2003 to live with a cousin but he became homeless two years after when he was driven out of by his relation. From 2005 to 2008, he slept on the street in Rivers State capital while a transformer served as his wardrobe before a ‘Good Samaritan’ picked him up and dropped him in the Government House Port Harcourt.
Many people think living in Port Harcourt is like living in Paradise because the city flows with oil money? You lived there. How was the experience like? From 2003 and 2008, I lived in Port Harcourt without help. I became a photographer because that was the only way I could get food. I slept in the street in Rumuomoi opposite the transformer because I had been driven out of the house where I lived with a relative. There was a young man that sold electrical parts that always gave me cartons to sleep on whenever he closed from his shop. I would bath between12 midnight and 1am because I had to do it almost in the middle of the road and that was the best time to do it as traffic would have eased. One particular day I told God I was not looking for mattress, pillow or even coverlet to sleep, but just a roof over my head. The first wardrobe I had to keep my things was inside the transformer beside the open space where I always slept in the street. I had only one pair of shoes, one pair of trousers and a T-shirt. Everyone around the community knew me with the clothes. Sometimes I fed on N20 per day. People called me all kinds of names just because I always slept in the street. Life was miserable; people didn’t want me around them. Though I had a village I could go back to, I made up my mind I wasn’t returning there. I started street photography and I was making between N20 and N40 per day. To cut the long story short, there was never a time back then when I found something to eat when I needed it, but, in all of these, I was very close to God. Why Port Harcourt? Because I believed I could make it there. I didn’t tell my family what I was going through until my troubles were over. It was a difficult moment in my life. I was known as Eze the photographer. People called me a mad man, a demon because I kept wearing one shirt every day sometimes for six months. I always trekked to my destination in town, no matter how far, until God used somebody one day to change my story. And after my story changed, I always reflect on what my life used to be and what I went through and I know that someone somewhere is going through similar experience. I made a vow to God that if He removed me from abject poverty, I will do everything humanly possible to help those in need and that is why I initiated Israel Ibeleme Foundation. Memory of the past Every time, God kept showing me my past. One day, during prayer, I asked why and I got a reply. I understood that I had to go through tough times because God wants me to save lives. I don’t have millions to help people as I would have loved to, that is why I didn’t start the foundation in a big way. I started by using my ideas to help elderly people. When did the foundation take off? It all started in 2006 but not with money because I never dreamed that it will become a foundation. I have passion to do things for people; so I started washing the clothes of elderly women in Port Harcourt for free. From there I started cooking for them and they would pray for me. About two years after, God changed my story. Realising where I came from, I decided to help those in situations similar to mine between 2003 and 2008 years ago with the little I have. With time the foundation grew bigger to the point it is now virtually bigger than me. What is the focus? The focus is to eliminate poverty. In 2013, 750 widows were empowered in Ikwuano, my local government area in Abia State. The beneficiaries were given sewing machines, cassava grinding machines and those whose businesses weren’t doing well got N50, 000 each and food items. I did the same thing in 2014 but what we gave out was mostly food items. In 2016, we did a programme in IDP camps. We also visited charity organizations and motherless babies’ homes. In 2017, we focused on education during which we reached out to 900 plus students in Gosa Junior Secondary School along Airport Road Abuja and gave them school bags, writing materials and text books. We also gave scholarship to six students. What about funding? No organization has given me funds but I have nice people around me, encouraging me. Meanwhile, anytime I receive salary or people give me money, I divide it into two parts and use one part for the project at the end of the year. I don’t live reckless lifestyle, so that gives me the latitude to save money to keep the foundation running. I have a student in final year in the university who has been funded by the foundation from his first year. Sourcing for funds? Yes, I have plans to do that now because the thing is virtually bigger than me and I can’t really fund it anymore alone. Your talent in photography apparently paid off I was just hard working and I like to work with passion. I don’t pretend, not looking for praise. I work for people like I work for myself and I put all my energy into whatever I do. What is your message to people out there? Let me start from those who have made it; I don’t want to be a seasonal rich man who has a big car but buys little fuel like a poor man. Art of giving There are some people who have everything they need but they can’t give out because they don’t have the spirit to give. I started giving at age 7. For those who have made it, they have to go back and remember people in need because the only way to sustain what God gives to you is by giving. For those still struggling, I was once like you. There are times when people will forsake you. I suffered a lot but I didn’t give up on God. God is watching you and will remember you one day. I will try as much as possible to help to alleviate poverty not just in Nigeria, my state, my local government but also across the world. We have to do that, everybody has to contribute. I don’t have much money to give because I am not a rich man but I have been giving.
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