Philanthropist, business mogul, and diplomat Adonis Abboud on Monday 10 October 2022 donated motorized and non-motorized wheels chairs to the physically challenged, at the Kenema City Council Hall, Maada Bio Street.
Presenting the wheelchairs, Adonis said, “Disability is not inability”… and people who are physically challenged are as equally important as any other member of society.
He explained that it was during an invite to the opening of the Kenema Youth Centre by the Leader of Government Business, Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma that he felt compelled to do something, to empathize with the physically challenged, and that was why he pledged the wheelchairs.
According to Adonis “the presentation of the wheelchairs is a fulfillment of that pledge.”
“There are 5 wheelchairs 2 are motorized with their own batteries and chargers, while the other 3s are standard,” he said.
The five beneficiaries were Hawa Koroma, Fatmata Sawanneh, Salamatu Brima, Musu Mansaray, and Victor S. Koroma. However, Hawa Koroma and Victor S. Koroma received the motorized wheelchairs, while the rest received were presented with manual wheelchairs.
Adonis also pledged to provide and another set of wheelchairs for Kenema’s physically challenged.
In his keynote address Hon. Mathew Sahr Nyuma explained Adonis’s numerous philanthropic activities in Sierra Leone. He said that democracy is all about the people that is why they are working relentlessly to provide for the basic needs of the ordinary people… “that is what democracy is all about to fight for the ordinary people.”
He said Adonis is not a politician but a diplomat who has been in Sierra Leone for over 4O years and has done a lot for Sierra Leone. “So it is not new to relate with him to help…”
He said we need to work together to develop Sierra Leone. Hon. Nyuma said he who feels it knows it. It is because we are empathizing with you that is why we have provided this wheelchair for you,” he said.
Hon. Nyuma admonished the beneficiaries not to sell the wheelchairs. “These wheelchairs are meant to make you comfortable, it is not for you to sell. If you are caught selling it you would be canceled and would never receive any benefit from us in the future,” he warned.
By ophaniel.gooding@awokonewspaper.sl
