By Emmanuel Olugua
A Nigerian returnee displaced by xenophobic violence in South Africa has secured automatic employment at the Omega Power Ministries (OPM) Free Specialist Hospital in Port Harcourt after the church’s founder, Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, discovered that he is a registered nurse.
The offer was made on Monday during a routine visit by the General Overseer of OPM to South African returnees currently living at the church’s free estate in Port Harcourt. While interacting with the evacuees, Chinyere learnt that the beneficiary had worked as a registered nurse in a South African hospital before xenophobic attacks forced him to flee and return to Nigeria.
The cleric immediately announced his employment at the OPM Free Specialist Hospital, saying the church was committed to helping displaced professionals rebuild their lives.
He also identified another returnee who had worked as a teacher in South Africa before the attacks and offered her immediate employment at one of OPM’s free schools in Port Harcourt.
Addressing the returnees, Chinyere said professionals who lost their jobs as a result of the violence would receive assistance in securing new employment.
“Those of you who are specialists and were working in South Africa before the wave of these xenophobic attacks that displaced you all will be assisted to secure a job,” he said.
“I am giving instant employment to the registered nurse at OPM Free Specialist Hospital in Port Harcourt.”
The latest gesture is part of the church’s ongoing support for Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following recurring xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
Recent outbreaks of anti-migrant violence in parts of South Africa, particularly Johannesburg and Pretoria, have resulted in deaths, destruction of property, and the displacement of thousands of African migrants. The unrest has compelled several African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, to evacuate their citizens.
According to OPM, the Nigerian government has repatriated nearly 1,500 citizens in seven batches, with about 65 of the returnees currently receiving free accommodation and feeding at OPM’s estate in Port Harcourt. Their children have also been awarded scholarships under the church’s educational support programme.
Chinyere appealed to the Rivers State Government, the Federal Government, multinational companies, international development agencies, non-governmental organisations, and well-meaning Nigerians to partner with the church in expanding support for the displaced returnees.
“We will welcome support from the State Government, Federal Government, United Nations, donor agencies, NGOs, multinational oil companies, and other eminent Nigerians,” he said.
OPM said its humanitarian initiatives include 43 free schools across several states, two free specialist hospitals, 19 free estates, a free skills acquisition centre, a free school for children with special needs, a free girls’ technical college, as well as local and international scholarship programmes for indigent Nigerians.
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