●●● Declares Dr (Mrs) Oby Ajih
Chief Hon Dr. (Mrs.) Oby Promise Ajih is a distinguished Nigerian physician, politician, humanitarian, and philanthropist. Dr. Ajih is the Founder of the Dr. Oby Ajih Hope Alive Foundation, a non-politicized, non-governmental organization established in 2012. The foundation focuses on reaching out to less privileged individuals and communities, providing support in areas such as healthcare, education, and social welfare. Through the Hope Alive Foundation, Dr. Ajih has been instrumental in bridging gaps in service delivery, particularly in underserved communities. Dr. Ajih contested for the House of Representatives in 2023 to represent Udenu and Igboeze North federal constituency.
Interview Excerpts with Chief Hon Dr. (Mrs.) Oby Promise Ajih anchored by Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of Newscount.
Introduction and Reason for Adornment of Robe
Newscount: Please, can you introduce yourself and tell us why you are adorning this beautiful robe today being Thursday, 17th. 2025?
Ajih: My name is Chief Hon Dr. (Mrs.) Oby Promise Ajih. I am happy today and delighted because I was just inducted as a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate and Public Administrators of Nigeria (ICPAN).
Inspiration for Humanitarian and Philanthropic Work
Newscount: You have been known as a humanitarian, philanthropist, physician, and politician. What inspires you to always reach out to the downtrodden and often seen offering free medical services and other support?
Ajih: It is because I do not like to see people battered and beaten with sicknesses. It is my vision; I followed my vision and not my ambition. As a physician, I am called to treat people with health challenges, even though it is God Almighty who will ultimately cure. Now, as a politician, I observed and decided that in today’s world, particularly in Nigeria, if you are not a political figure and in a position of authority, you are likely to be limited in offering some level of expanded service and assistance that can directly and indirectly reach a lot of people, and people will not know you. That was the vision that drove me to contest for the House of Representatives in 2023 under the political party of All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent Udenu and Igboeze North federal constituency and take this free medical outreach and other worthy legislative interests several steps higher. Anything that has to do with health brings joy whenever I spread my arms to reach out with a kind gesture to the vulnerable—the people who really need it most.
Hope Alive Foundation
Newscount: Can you go ahead and tell us more about Hope Alive Foundation and where you see it in the next five to ten years from today?
Ajih: The Dr. Oby Ajih Hope Alive Foundation has been in existence since 2012, reaching out to people who are less privileged, single-handedly, by the grace of God. It is not politicized; it is not owned by any organization. We are just doing it to help people and the needy in particular. By the grace of God, in the next five to ten years, as we have prayed, designed, and desired, Hope Alive Foundation will flourish more and reach out even more—the sky will not be our limit but starting point—we will expand and reach out to so many wards and communities. In fact, as I speak, there are some things the government is supposed to do which they are not doing, but we will bridge the gap.
View on Bill for Special Seats for Women at the National Assembly
Newscount: There is this bill specifically for special seats for women at the National Assembly. What is your view or thought on that?
Ajih: My view and thought on that are that in this present administration and probably the next one to come, they keep saying 30 percent affirmation for women in the past, but at the end of the day, it will not be up to 10 percent. Check in the National Assembly today; the Senators in the National Assembly today—how many women are there? We just have only three women. I will even say two and a half now because Senator Natasha Akpoti is not yet back at the Senate chamber, so there are only two women senators at the moment out of 109. Check also in the Federal House of Representatives—how many women? Check chairs of various government parastatals and agencies—how many women are heading them? So if they can start it now and have the political will to make it work well, that will be very good development and growth for our democratic journey. Just check those organizations where women have headed in the past or currently, and you will see that they have done well and are doing well. In fact, the way it is, we are just praying to God that in 2027, we will see more women coming up to contest for gubernatorial elections in various states, not only for deputy positions, but even in the presidential race as well.
Newscount: Thank you.
Ajih: Thank you very much.
