Rochas: Celebrating 20 years of educational philanthropy in Africa

Perhaps 20 years is a long time for a lot of people. Indeed many would use every opportunity to let you know that twenty represents two decades. But for Owelle Rochas Okorocha, founder and President of Rochas Foundation, time only flies in a daze and leaves one with a nostalgic feeling. Because, its difficult to imagine a dream grow into a behemoth; like the roots of the cedar – strong, expanding and un-put-down-able. You ignore it to your peril.

Born without the proverbial silver spoon, the young Rochas Okorocha helped his mother to eke a living by hawking on the streets. Of course, the prospect of not going to school or completing his education was a constant challenge to the rather humongous dreams and aspirations of the young boy. Yet, he remained undaunted and instead pulled himself by the boot straps to emerge one of the wealthiest Nigerians in contemporary history. Except that his wealth was dippe d in unimaginable instinct for giving.

Perhaps, it was his past that conditioned his present and ultimately propelled him to set his eyes on the future and eventually to the plight of the down trodden and less privileged. Once he got money, he began to seek out children who reflected his past. He went deeper into the crevice to seek children with worse trajectory – orphaned and indigent, and gave them hope. But, more importantly, he offered free and qualitative education to the children.

The journey, which irrevocably set him apart and on the path of philanthropy, started in a mosque known as Masalanci Dunma, in Jos, capital of Plateau State, Nigeria where he fed homeless and indigent children, as well as other less privileged persons. Bothered by the fact that those fed weekly returned to their lives of uncertainty and penury, Owelle came up with a strategy that could permanently take them out of extreme poverty and want. The outcome was the birth of Rochas Foundation.

Founded February 24, 1998, the foundation has committed itself to providing free and qualitative education to indigent and orphaned children, beginning from primary to secondary and to university education. Today, the Rochas Foundation Colleges spread across Nigeria – Ibadan, Sokoto, Kano, Zaria, Yola, Bauchi, Jos, Enugu, Owerri and Ogboko, where these children total scholarship stand as a testament of the milk of kindness that flows from his generous heart.

Owelle Okorocha likewise blazed the trail when he pioneered the establishment of Rochas Foundation College of Africa (ROFOCA) in Owerri in 2017. The school consists of 275 orphaned children from 55 countries of Africa, with each country providing five kids. Again, the children ROFOCA enjoy free and qualitative education never imagined possible in their respective countries.

As a result of this rare benevolence, over 15,000 orphaned and indigent children are presently in the Rochas Foundation Colleges with books, uniform, teaching and other learning materials provided absolutely free. The foundation also boasts of having produced over 4,000 university graduates, some of whom are gainfully employed and have come back to donate equipment snd other resources as a way of expressing gratitude for what they benefitted from the founder.

Expectedly, encomiums for the Imo State Governor have come from within Nigeria and beyond.  Ghanian President, Nana Akufo Addo praised Okorocha for his uncommon brand of philanthropy. According to him, “education is the equalizer of opportunity. I am president today because of education and as a result we must continue to invest in education if Africa must develop beyond what it is today. That is exactly what the advanced countries like USA, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, UK and all the others in Europe have done to get to where they are today”.

He added, “I have continued to associate with Governor Okorocha because he shares the same vision with me which is to ensure that even the less privileged in the society have access to quality education, and in Ghana I have made it a policy that every child must have access to at least secondary education.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, on his part said, “Okorocha has passion for education and he has been using his foundation to ensure that the children of the poor who could not go to school are now doing so because of the Rochas Foundation and I think that others should indeed emulate him.”

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has not hidden his admiration for Owelle and his love for the education of the down trodden children. He said, “Rochas does not only love education, he has passion for the education of the underprivileged. He surprised me with what I have seen today. I am marveled. I doff my hat for him for his giant strides in education.”

For Jacob Zuma, immediate past President of South Africa, Rochas Okorocha understands the problems of Africa and knew what to do to correct them.”Part of the reasons why I am being attacked in South Africa is because I believe that our rights have been maligned and our people are being exploited by our colonial masters and this can only be corrected through education empowerment of our people which Rochas Foundation is giving,” he said

First female President in Africa, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who recently handed over to President George Weah of Liberia was virtually overwhelmed when she visited the Rochas Foundation College of Africa (ROFOCA) in Owerri weeks before her historic exit from office.“I’ve never experienced anything like the Rochas Foundation:, she exclaimed. Reflecting on the 25 years bloody war and impact of Ebola pandemic in her country, the erstwhile Liberian President noted that  Okorocha was giving hope not only to Liberians, but to the entire African continent.

On the five Liberian children in the school she said, “I could do no less than reflect on 25 years ago, in my country when children like them couldn’t go to school because there were no schools. Children like them were conscripted into the army, where they held guns that were bigger than them. These ones can now have an opportunity to learn, to excel and to be what they want to be. It is an opportunity that not so many children around Africa and the world have, to come together as children of the global family, to share experiences, diverse but unified. There’s nothing more than that.”

Evidently, Owelle Okorocha has done well to deserve the accolades. But he remains insatiable in his quest for free and qualitative education. That perhaps explains why the man is at the forefront of the campaign for the institutionalization of free education in all the states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The Governor is leading a lobby for all State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly to pass a law making education to be free and compulsory for all Nigerian children from primary to tertiary education.

It was the late American President, Ronald Reagan who said, “The future does not belong to the faint hearted; it belongs to the brave”. Obviously, many would have termed the task of providing free education for the poor as daunting and unattainable. Many may have given up considering the huge financial costs involved. In fact, it is doubtful if we can count up to five Africans willing and able to devote 70 percent of income earned to charity as Rochas has done. But, he took all the challenges in his strides and made it a lifestyle worthy of emulation.

As Rochas Foundation celebrates 20th anniversary on February 24, 2018, it is significant that we point to the founder as a worthy example to humanity and a beacon of hope to the poor and the helpless. Africa must arise to celebrate a worthy son; a bright light in a continent plagued by greed, avarice and extreme selfishness. Okorocha is truly a stock set apart from the proverbial rich man embattled and consumed by insatiable lusts.

Igwe wrote from Abuja.