His Excellency Amb. Hezekiah C. Duru wins Human Rights Defender of The Year Award from Arise Africa Magazine.
Social scientist have postulated that no man is born human but being classified as a human being is only but a product of the content of ones character and behaviours makes one a human being .same can be seen in the person of Dr. Hezekiah .C. Duru.
Born in the family of most Rev. Prof. Daddy Hezekiah MFR. The founder and leader of living Christ mission Inc, and the proprietor of Hezekiah university the first private university in Imo state. Dr. AMBASSADOR HEZEKIAH .C. DURU is the fourth child among seven children of his parents, Mr and Mrs Benjamin Duru . Ambassador Dr. Hezekiah .C. Duru can mistakenly be described as one born with golden spoon ,but he never was as he grew from grass to grace.
His early childhood education was made possible by self help efforts which saw him engaged in Baber jobs later sales of petty articles to enable him assist his parents to pay school fees. He further engaged himself in all forms of vacation jobs to raise money to boost his petty articles which he harked in village market days across Abia and Imo state. His trade was made possible by his savings form a vacation job in Patoria Hotels Umuahia where he gathered a savings of eight thousand naria N 8,000 which he invested in his trade.
Ambassador Dr .Hezekiah .C. Duru never lost focus to further his education as he used the profits from his petty business to secure admission into institutions of higher learning. An accounting graduate of Akanu Ibiam federal polytechnic uwana where he banged a National Diploma certificate with good grades. He later proceed to Ebonyi state university Abakaliki to acquire B.SC in Accounting. He also holds a master Degree in business Administration in Enugu state university, before proceeding to shield of faith west African University U.S.A where he obtained his Doctorate Degree in Business Administration.
His certifications qualified him into becoming member of some professional bodies which includes:
(i)institute of chartered Economic of Nigeria.
(ii)Institute of chartered Bankers of Nigeria
(iii)chartered Institute of finance and control Nigeria etc
Ambassador Dr. Hezekiah .C. Duru has banged so many local and international Awards numerous to mention which includes
(i)2014 youth development award by Nigerian youths in Dispora.
(ii)2015 Dependable friend of the youths by Presbyterian young people association Abakaliki
(iii)2015 Award of Honour for selfless service to God and Humanity by federal University of Technology Owerri
(iv)Fifth times Best man of the year by living Christ Mission Inc. Worldwide
(v)Africa youth pillar of the year Award 2017 received from African youth Economic and business submit
(vi)2017 Imperial Ambassador for peace in Nigeria by Nigerian youths for peace.
(vii)Pan African prize for excellence in leadership by African student Union particular with head office in Accra Ghana.
(viii)Merit Award on God fearing leadership and humanitarian philanthropy 2017 by centre for prevention of corruption and human rights Abuse Initiatives (CPCHRAI)
(ix)2018 Award of Excellence in Entrepreneur philanthropy by Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Ebonyi chapter.
(x)2019 Award of excellence by Nigerian University students Association (NUASA) Ebonyi state university.
(xi)2018 Award for unflinching support to medical social workers,(FETHA) by Association of medical social workers peace Ambassador
(xii)United Nations Eminent peace Ambassador june 2020 by International Association of world peace Adovocates.
(xiii)Sir Abubakar Tafawa Belewa. Platinum Award MARKUWAR MATASAN AREWA by Northern youths progressive Forum (NYPF)August 2022
(xiv)Dr.Nnamdi Azikiwe Leadership Award as OMEZIRI NDI IGBO NA NIGERIA by OHANEZE NDIGBO YOUTH ASSEMBLY.
(xv)SDG Champion of the year October 2022 by UN SDGs Recue Marshal June 2021 by unique Neutral Rescue society and patron under the same rescue society.
(xvi)Appointment as the International Director on sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) partnership August 2021 by International Association of world peace Advocate.
(xvi)Appointment as National Board Secretary IHRC December 2021.
(xvii)Appointment as the Head of Missions- International Human Rights Commission - IHRC - April 2022
Ambassador Dr. Hezekiah .C. Duru has vest experience and training in the Banking Industring which gave him an edge above his coleques. He has industrial experience at Gurantee Trust Bank GTB at Onitsha before being employed by bank PHB now keystone Bank. As a wellbred banker irrespective of his tight schedule he finds time to interact and assist the vuInurables; and indegent widows not excluding the youths that cut across so many state in Nigeria without discriminations.
It is obvious that his capacity in human building and philanthropy is drawn from his philosophy about rendering help to the needy which anchors on his believe that A CANDLE DOES NOT LOSE ANYTHING BY LIGHTENING ANOTHER CANDLE. As a faithful Christian he also draws inspiration from the book of Luke 16:10 :’’He that is faithful in a little will be faithful in much’’
Ambassador Dr .C. Duru never look down on people who came in contact with him as a devolt Christian he believes in practical show of love to people via using his hard earned resources to touch lifes in various communities. Here is a man who believes that giving opportunity to people can bring about success especially when the Grace of God speaks in their favour.
His practical demonstration of his benevolence and heart manifest in his philanthropic achievements.
(i)Building Houses for the indigent widows and the less privileged across some state in Nigeria
(ii)Giving different categories of scholarship to students from primary to Tertiary institutions of higher learning across the nation
(iii)Youths Empowerments via donation of cash to venture into different trades of their choice to reduce crime.
(iv)Human capacity building for youths in Imo and Ebonyi states via donation of Tricycles and Motorbikes not excluding sponsoring Artisan Trade to make the youth productive.
(v)Rural Electrifications is not left out as he has donated Transformers to many communities across the state.
(vi)Provision of portable drinking water via sinking bore hole wells in various communities.
(vii)Commercial bus drivers are not left out as he donates buses and cars to them to enable them take care of their families.
(viii)Embarked on sponsoring RESCUE of so many Nigerian and west African ladies and girls lured into Libya as sex slaves. This earned him a RESCUE MARSHAL AWARD.
(ix)Donation of church building of 1000 sitting capacity to the people of Abakaliki Ebonyi state
(x)Assisted so many persons whose rights were violated to secure justice. Etc.
Ambassador Dr .c. Duru has toured so many countries in Africa and Europe /America in respect to IHRC to promote peace,equity and has also visited good numbers of IDP camps with palatives to assist them towards a new beginning .
Indeed it is painstaking to write and read the contention of a great Achiver whose achievements is big enough to be contained in an encyclopaedia. He has also played host to members of IHRC local and international
As Gods Grace is so sufficient for him ,he is happily married and blessed with five children not excluding so many orphans he adopted to educate them towards empowering then to earn living through his support scheme. He has used his huge profile and capacity to consistently influence and attract development to his community and beyond . he is indeed seen as the saviour of the indigent and vulnerable the man of the people a prophet of peace, unity, and justice sent by God.
Ambassador Dr. Hezekiah.C. Duru is a great asset to humanity, an epitome of exemplary leader, apeace vanguard, technocrat ,human capacity builder ,selfless servant and above all the content of his character speaks volumes in his judgment as a gold fish whose qualities can never be hidden for the benefit of humanity. The best is yet to come from a man driven by Grace and located by favour fuelled by passion ,love and honesty.
Congratulations from all of us at Arise Africa Magazine