By Evans Ndukwo
Guest Columnist
There are politicians who chase power for prestige, and then there are those like Orji Uzor Kalu who see power as a tool to serve and uplift their people. His life is deeply rooted in community, compassion and a visible passion for helping others rise. Whether in the corridors of business or the chambers of government, Kalu has remained unshakably loyal to the dreams of ordinary Nigerians. His love for his people is not theoretical—it is practical, personal, and powerful. From village roads to urban classrooms, from healthcare support to youth empowerment, Kalu continues to show that leadership is most meaningful when it is felt, not just declared.
Through his Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation, he has impacted thousands of lives across Nigeria—not just with kind words, but with life-changing action too. The foundation has sponsored young Nigerians to study medicine abroad, giving them the opportunity to pursue world-class education and return home to improve healthcare in their communities. In a country where access to quality education and professional advancement is often reserved for the privileged, this intervention has broken generational barriers for many families.
Beyond education, the foundation has also empowered subsistence farmers to expand their reach into commercial agriculture. By providing tools, training and financial support, Kalu has helped transform local farming into profitable ventures, creating jobs and increasing food security in rural areas. His support doesn’t end in the fields. In urban and semi-urban neighborhoods, young girls and mothers have been trained in tailoring, hairdressing and small-scale enterprise, and then empowered with full startup kits to begin their own businesses. This isn’t just philanthropy—it’s economic liberation for hundreds of women who were once unemployed or underemployed.
Kalu’s generosity extends to small and medium businesses. Through financial assistance and mentorship, he has helped local entrepreneurs grow their ideas into functioning businesses that now support families and even employ others. His foundation isn’t a vanity project—it is a bridge to opportunity, rooted in a deep understanding of what everyday Nigerians truly need: support, trust and a real chance to build better lives.
This compassion is not new. Long before many of his peers recognized the power of giving back, Kalu was already serving. In the late 1990s, he contributed a staggering N500 million to the formation of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—a gesture that was not just political but patriotic, aimed at stabilizing Nigeria’s democracy after years of military rule. As Governor of Abia State from 1999 to 2007, he implemented free education from primary to tertiary level, rehabilitated hundreds of roads, upgraded healthcare institutions, and initiated rural electrification in over 150 communities. His government also empowered civil servants through agricultural schemes and financial grants, setting a precedent for people-oriented governance in the region.
Today, as the senator representing Abia North, Kalu remains an active servant of the people. He has facilitated the construction of more than 140 rural roads, installed solar-powered streetlights across numerous communities, built civic centres, renovated schools and continued to distribute free textbooks and school supplies to students. His constituency is not just represented—it is also remembered, respected and regularly reached.
What makes Orji Uzor Kalu different is his consistency. He does not only show up during elections; he shows up when it matters most—when someone needs school fees, when a village needs water, when a youth needs hope. His philanthropy is sustained, his service sincere. Whether through legislation, direct assistance or quiet acts of kindness, he has remained close to the ground, walking with the people and not ahead of them.
In a time when many leaders forget their roots, Kalu remains deeply grounded in his. He has used wealth not to distance himself from the people but to bring himself closer to their needs. He has used power not to intimidate but to illuminate. He has used privilege not to insulate, but to empower.
Orji Uzor Kalu’s story is not just one of personal success—it is the story of a man who has made service to others his life’s mission. In a nation desperate for leaders who put the people first, Kalu reminds us that public office is not just a title—it is a responsibility. And he continues to fulfill that responsibility with grace, humility and dedication.
• Ndukwo, a teacher, administrator and public affairs analyst, writes from Abiriba, Abia State
