Nigerian Healthcare Foundation hosts 9th annual gala

By Yetunde A. Odugbesan – The Nigerian Healthcare Foundation (NHF) will hold its 9th. Annual Faces of Hope Gala on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Metropolitan Ballroom in the Newark Club located at 1085 Raymond Boulevard Newark NJ 07114.

Dr. Iwuozo L. Obilo

Dr. Iwuozo L. Obilo

NHF Faces of Hope

NHF Faces of Hope

This year, NHF will be honoring Dr. Chisara Asomugha, Commissioner on the US Commission to UNESCO, Vice President of the Asomugha Foundation and leading expert in public health with the Healthcare in Leadership Award, Mr. Keith Green; CEO of United Way of Essex and West Hudson with the Philanthropy in Leadership Award and Roseline Akintunde-Atte, founder of ReNovate Nigeria with the Young Humanitarian Award.

The gala will be hosted by Award-winning actress and film producer Ebbe Bassey. Tickets can be purchased online at www.2014nhfgala.evenbrite.com

On April 26, NHF will assemble 400-500 guests to celebrate our honorees’ embodiment of the spirit of NHF’s mission.  We will be joined by a number of esteemed leaders in the non-profit, corporate and medical fields as well as well as other dignitaries.

Past honorees and special guests have included: Dr. Ferdinand Ofodile, World-Class Surgeon; James Ihedigbo, Super Bowl-winning Defensive Back with the Baltimore Ravens; Ambassador Joy Ogwu, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations; and Honorable Mallam Ibrahim Awalu, Former Consul General of the Nigerian Consulate in New York.

Nigerian Healthcare Foundation logoAdditionally, we are pleased to highlight the continued institutional commitment of Hackensack University Medical Center, voted one of America’s Top 50 Best Hospitals.

NHF works towards ameliorating the health condition in rural Nigeria where access to basics such as healthcare, education, and proper hygiene options are limited or severely restricted.  Since 2001, their dedication to their mission has allowed them to conduct an annual two-week medical mission for the past ten years, free of charge.  At their temporary clinic, they receive an average of roughly 400 patients a day; the overwhelming majority of these individuals come from remote village areas and would never have otherwise received medical attention due to the inaccessible nature or the cost.  To date, they have treated over 10,000 patients! The NHF will conduct its mission trip this year from July 6 to July 18, if you are interested in participating as a volunteer or health practitioner on our mission trip kindly email mission@nhfinc.org

NHF was founded by Dr. Iwuozo L. Obilo, a board certified pediatrician, is the visionary and founder of the Nigerian Healthcare Foundation, Inc. Nigerian Healthcare Foundation emanated from the need and passion to serve his fellow Nigerians particularly in his community of Imo State. As a family owned foundation, the Volunteer Executive Director of NHF is Dr. Obilo’s daughter Ijeoma Obilo who has a Masters in Public Health and Public Affairs.

Born in the southeast region of Nigeria and with much of his family still in his homeland, Dr. Obilo has a vested interest in the problems faced by Nigerians and Africans in general. NHF was founded on passion, compassion and purpose. Dr. Obilo wanted to give back to his community that has contributed so much to his own life and success. His community gave him the hope to follow his dreams and he wanted to ensure that every time he visited Nigeria he was the Face of Hope of other as well. Which is why NHF’s annual gala is called Faces of Hope, calling people to make a difference and be a face of hope to someone in need.