Obinwanne Farmers 

.The Obinwanne Farmers Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charity organized to assist the Ogbe people of Ahaizu Mbaise in Imo state Nigeria. A farmers co-op there called the Obinwanne Farmers Ltd. has been established to help the small poor farmers in this area pool their resources to assit one another. Most are very poor and water is a scarcity. The crops include cassava, palm fruit and yams. Cassava has become the primary food source for the African continent. 

The Obinwanne Farmers is a fund raising corporation organized to assist these poor farmers in improving the water supplies, and farming and processing of these crops. Our fund raising and donation work will concentrate in the Central New York area. Our hope is adopt this small area in Nigeria to help them lift themselves from the cycle of poverty that has trapped this people since the Biafran war in 1967.

The Obinwanne Farmers Inc. is soliciting Doctors and Medical Facilities for unused medicines and used and American outdated medical equipment. These medical supplies will be gathered and shipped to a team of Doctors for use in improving  the medical treatment for these people.

We are also soliciting corporate sponsorship to build water wells and bore whole water within the small communities for easy access to clean water. This is the most pressing need for these people. Many must walk 6 to 10 km and carry back a jug of water for drinking and cleaning. In the dry season even these water supplies will dry up and the few deep drilled wells that are still producing water can be privately owned. At these times those without are made to pay for the water from the pumps. These conditions lead many to go to bed with dry parched throats.

We also plan to purchase farming and production equipment to assist the people in harvesting and processing the products. Cassava must be processed within 48 hrs or it begins to decay.

All of these investments will assist this community in feeding itself and helping their overall economic outlook. Please read more about these hardworking yet very underprivileged people on the 'About the Ibo people' page.

The Officers and Board of Directors:

President: Rev. Dr. Ejike Innocent Onyenagubo. Father Innocent is a Roman Catholic Priest from the Ahiara Diocese in Ahaizu Mbaise, Imo state Nigeria. Fr Innocent was assigned to the Syracuse Diocese by his Bishop as a Missionary for the Church. He was assigned to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Liverpool NY from1999 to 2006. In 2006 Fr Innocent was reassigned as the priest chaplain at Upstate Medical Hospital Complex in Syracuse NY, where he currently serves. Rev. Dr. Ejike was born and raised in Imo state Nigeria and, as a priest, worked hard to get the farmers organized into a co-op to share the meager resources that are available. He has never forgotten his people and their plight. In 2005 he, along with friends in the Syracuse area, began work to incorporate the Obinwanne Farmers Inc. as a non-profit charitable organization. The sole purpose is to help alleviate the deplorable condition of the Ogbe people, Fr Innocent's people, in this community.

Vice President: Albert Sahm. Al retired from the Engineering Department at General Electric and then became Manager of Operations for the largest tour company in Central NY. Al is a past Mayor of the Village of Liverpool. Over the years he has held many positions in the Village government. Al currently is a Real Estate Broker for Prudential 1st Properties.

Treasurer: Barbara Tubbert. Barbara is owner of Rotek Business Services in Liverpool NY. The company specializes in computerized bookkeeping services for small to medium size businesses. She is also a certified Quickbooks Pro-Advisor. She has much experience at financial record keeping, working with other non-profit organizations in her business .

Secretary: Michael Tubbert. Mike recently retired from Pitney Bowes Inc as a Senior Engineer. He currently is involved in his parish and in The Sacred Heart Apostolate in Syracuse NY.

Board Members:

David Wilton: Dave is a '66 graduate of LeMoyne College. Retired from GE Finance Dept after 28 years. He is a commissioned Lay Minister in the Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus, 3rd degree. Dave is also a member of Our Ladies Rosary makers and an active member volunteer in the Apostolate of the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart. Dave has been married 44 years and has 9 children and 14 grandchildren.

Robert Killius: Bob retired after 40 years with GE. Bob earned an Engineering Degree from Syracuse University. Bob has volunteered much time since retirement for the ELFUN organization and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Liverpool NY. Bob also is involved in doing taxes for Senior Citizens in the area.