Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael: A Quintessential Spur-of- the-moment Benefactor
People have different motives for giving. Some give because they expect a reward or something in return. Others give or throw a few millions of cash around to blow their trumpet in order to gain cheap popularity.
For Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael his giving is born out of a pure heart to make life more bearable and meaningful for others, especially widows and the less-privileged.
In a chat with newsmen at his Obikabia magnificent country home, the US-based illustrious son of Obikabia in Nnanji Autonomous Community, Isiala Ngwa North local government area of Abia State says that he belongs to the School of Thought, which believes that God blesses people to be a blessing to others.
According to him, his life revolves around this mantra and that is why he does not see himself as a philanthropist or accepts to be addressed as one.
Instead, he simply said that he does not need public recognition to validate his service to humanity but God.
He advised those God has blessed to help others so that God would continue to bless them more abundantly and give them the heart to do the best they can for others, instead of seeking for public recognition.
According to the Bible, he said that anyone who can help you is your neighbour adding that the driving spirit behind his SAFEHANDS FOUNDATION is to provide succour for the hopeless and create opportunities for the less-privileged in a challenging society through education, healthcare, soft loans and grants to small-scale entrepreneurs to reduce poverty.
He said that the non-profit organization has registered over 2, 000 students of Obikabia community in Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia State for both WAEC and NECO Examinations in the past four years to encourage the actualization of their educational pursuits.
Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael’s unparalleled magnanimity in all facets of life has attracted resounding encomium from far and near and his people are so happy to have him as their son.
His numerous life-changing altruistic gestures lends credence to this popular saying of an American broadcast journalist, Germany Kent: “Live your life in such a way that you would be remembered for your kindness, compassion, fairness, character and benevolence” and would continue to permeate every nook and cranny of Obikabia Autonomous Community in the years to come.
Indeed, the benevolence of Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael knows no bounds. No wonder, he describes himself as a ‘Spur-of-the-moment Benefactor’ and does his best to put smile on the faces of people at all times.
His humanitarian gestures to individuals, the church and the society at large are unparalleled and noiseless.
According to him, his giving is not really out of abundance of resources but out of a clear passion to make positive impact on the lives of the people stressing that it is not who has that gives, but who wants to help.
He said that the advice of one of his mentors has continued to inspire him to help people. According to him, he usually tells him to see the need in any situation and take the lead and that has really helped him in trying to do his best to help people.
He disclosed that his benevolence is not channeled towards a particular direction or limited to a certain people.
He said that if he sees a pregnant woman who does not have money to pay her hospital bill and he is in a position to help her, he does that.
The next minute, if he sees a pupil or student whose parents are not able to pay his tuition fees and they talk to him and he sees that he is serious with his studies he would help him.
In another vein, if he sees any dilapidated infrastructure in his community or elsewhere and feels that he can help, he does so without looking back to make the society better.
Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael believes that God would make what you make to work for others, work for you stressing that Zig Ziglar’s assertion that one way you can be very happy in life is by helping others has really been a powerful motivator to him.
He also praised his mother for bringing them up with the fear of God and inculcating in them the spirit of lending a helping hand to others.
And as they grew up, it became part and parcel of their lives. And when God blessed them, it awakened that compassionate part of their lives, he said.
He urged parents to “Train their children in the way they should go. Even when they grow old they will not depart from it”. (Proverbs 22:6)
Asked if he has ever had cause to regret helping people, the prominent, young, handsome, humble, amiable, forthright, ebullient and indefatigable President of SAFEHANDS FOUNDATION said that he has never had a cause to regret because he does not expect anything in return from people.
However, he said that if someone he helped used the money he gave him to do drugs, bet9ja or any other useless thing, he would only feel sorry for the person that the desired outcome was not achieved.
He maintained that he is hardly disappointed and called on the youth who indulge in stealing, drug abuse and other forms of social vice to desist from such destructive lifestyle and engage in meaningful activities or positive ways of life.
Coming to his advice to the present crop of the nation’s leaders, Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael urged them to keep in mind that at the end of their time here on earth there would be recompense for every deed both good or bad.
He emphasized that no matter how much wealth they accumulate, the day they would die, nobody would put even one of their cars in the grave for them.
He told them to have that at the back of their mind so as to understand that every leadership position is a call to serve and they should utilize the opportunity for the greater good of all, especially the poorest and weakest in the society.
He urged them to think about the fact that one day they are going to leave this earth and find ways to do the job that they are supposed to do in order to move the society forward.
He eulogized the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti (OFR) for his quality leadership and monumental achievements in the state within a very short time in office.
He urged him to remain focused and continue to do his best, especially in hiring the best hands to do the job with him.
He described him as a change maker adding that they are already witnessing tremendous changes in different parts of the state.
He commended him for seeing the need and taking the lead in touching every facet of the state.
He prayed that God would continue to grant him more wisdom as he pilots the affairs of Abia State to greater height.
Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael appealed to the well-to-do in the society to do more in lifting up widows and the less-privileged in the society noting that many rich people in the country seem not to be doing enough for them.
Sir Engr. Cyril Chinonso Ishmael is a man of the people and a great lover of education. After his secondary school, he gained admission at Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt where he obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical/Petrochemical Engineering in 2008.
Thereafter, he proceeded to Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom where he bagged his Master’s degree in Oil and Gas Engineering in May, 2013.
From there, he went to Atlanta Georgia, USA and enlisted in the USA Navy where he served meritoriously before withdrawing from active service and joined the USA Navy Reserve where he has remained till date.
After his glorious active service in the US Navy, he started SAFEHANDS SERVICES LLC, DBA SAFEHANDS DISCOUNT TYRES in Beaufort, South Carolina, USA.
He is a recipient of numerous prestigious honours and awards in recognition of his services to God and humanity.
He is the ‘Ezinwa ka Ibe ya Ndi Nna’ conferred on him by the Christian Fathers Association of the First African Church Mission, Ngwa Central Diocese, Ebenezer Parish, Uratta in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, a Knight of the First African Church Mission, St. Silas Cathedral, Obikabia in Nnanji Autonomous Community among others.
Sir Cyril Chinonso Ishmael is a legendary pacesetter and inimitable benefactor. His staggering benevolence has completely transformed so many lives in his community and beyond and given his people a cause to smile in Abia State.
