Former United States President, John F. Kennedy, once urged citizens to “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” That timeless charge remains a global call to service but in Nigeria, where public officials are often accused of mismanaging funds, it sometimes feels like a forgotten creed.
Yet, there are still those who prove that leadership and service can coexist. In Delta State, the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, FCA, stands out as one of the few public officers who live by that principle. His frugality in managing public resources and his personal commitment to philanthropy offer a refreshing glimpse of hope that with sincerity and discipline, Nigeria can indeed rise again.
Sir Onyeme’s story is one of modest beginnings and quiet impact. A former lecturer and mentor, he used his early years to guide young minds. When fortune smiled on him, he didn’t forget his roots. Through the Monday Onyeme Foundation, he established a scholarship scheme that continues to lift indigent students who would otherwise have dropped out of school due to financial constraints.
But his generosity did not stop there. He built the first church in his hometown of Ibabu, Onicha-Ukwuani, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area. Before then, there was no single purpose-built worship centre in the community — only makeshift shelters and rented spaces. Today, St. John’s Anglican Church, built and furnished by Onyeme, stands as a testament to faith, gratitude, and service.
As a Knight of the Anglican Church and a Chartered Accountant, Onyeme’s lifestyle reflects integrity and accountability. Those who work closely with him affirm his insistence that every kobo spent in his office must be justified. His approach to governance mirrors the question: What can I do for the state? rather than What can the state do for me?
Even as Deputy Governor, his scholarship scheme remains active. On Saturday, November 22, 2025, beneficiaries of the latest edition will receive cheques worth over ₦100 million at a ceremony slated for Dennis Osadebay University, Asaba, yet another chapter in his long-standing commitment to education and youth development.
Philanthropy in Delta is not Onyeme’s sole domain. Another shining example is Pastor Chuks Agidigbo, a man widely known for his compassion and generosity. Through his Chuks Agidigbo Leadership Foundation, he donated a fully equipped six-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to the Central Hospital, Kwale, valued at over ₦100 million.
For many, the gesture was a lifeline. During the COVID-19 pandemic, access to intensive care facilities proved crucial, and such donations were few and far between. The ICU remains the only one of its kind serving Ndokwa, parts of Isoko, Patani, and Ogwashi-Uku, a vital healthcare asset to thousands.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, while commissioning the facility in October 2024, praised Pastor Agidigbo’s selfless act, describing it as “a major contribution to the healthcare content of the M.O.R.E Agenda.” He commended the pastor’s decision to not only build the structure but also equip it with ventilators, oxygen systems, and patient monitors, a demonstration of complete and thoughtful giving.
However, the joy has been dimmed by bureaucracy. During an oversight visit on November 6, 2025, members of the Delta State House of Assembly Committee on Health discovered that the ICU had yet to be put to use due to a shortage of qualified personnel. The committee, led by Hon. Ferguson Onwho, directed the Hospital Management Board to urgently activate the facility, warning that such negligence could discourage future donors.
His Christian background must have also influenced his decision to build, equip and donate a church building to The Redeemed Christian Church of God in Ndemili, Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Beyond his humanitarian work, Pastor Agidigbo is also a grassroots mobilizer. Through his One-to-One Grassroot Initiative, he rallies citizens to support government policies and encourages personal responsibility in nation-building. His philosophy is simple: if Nigerians focus more on how to help society than on what they can take from it, the nation will thrive.
Both Onyeme and Agidigbo are proof that progress begins with individual conviction. Their examples challenge the rest of us to reflect on how we can serve our communities, not just through grand gestures, but in everyday honesty, diligence, and civic-mindedness.
Indeed, with leaders like Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme at the helm, Delta State continues to inspire confidence in governance that cares, gives, and builds.
So, to every reader: how are you contributing to the growth of your community? Through criticism alone, or through action that uplifts others?
Delta’s journey shows that service, not self-interest, remains the surest path to greatness.
God bless Delta State! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!
Comrade Fidelis Egugbo, the writer, is the Senior Special Assistant on Media to Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and Chief Press Secretary to Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme.
