By Kehinde Okeowo
Award-winning and plus-size actress, Ify Okeke-Ozzoude, is one of the old faces in Nollywood, having been part of the film industry for over two decades.
Elpha and Purple Campaign is her pet project and it is aimed at lifting the poor and eradicating domestic violence
The graduate of Business Administration is the founder of Elpha and Purple Campaign Initiative that creates awareness against rape, human trafficking, child abuse, molestation, bullying, and all manner of violence.
The Foundation which is known as Rachael Okeke-Ozzoude Foundation (ROOF) seeks to empower children, youths, widows, orphans, and the less- privileged as a way of contributing her quota to society.
Elpha and Purple Campaign turned from a dream into reality in June 2011, when the maiden edition of the event was held at the Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac-Town, Amuwo-Odofin. It was, then known as Purple Campaign.
Since then it has grown in leaps and bound, as the 10th edition of the annual event, which was tagged: “Paint my Alma-Mater Royalty Purple” was held on Tuesday, November 30, 2021, at Calabar Hall, Ajao Road, Surulere, Lagos.
This year’s campaign was not limited to the empowerment of the Less privileged alone but featured humanitarian awards for those who supported the initiative
The event had in attendance secondary school students, victims of violence, abuse, mental health and their advocates, widows, orphans, homeless, aged, physically challenged, and other less- privileged in the society.
Other attendees include corporate sponsors, government representatives, singers, Nollywood actors and actresses, BBnaija Stars, and other celebrities across the entertainment industry.
Notable among these personalities are Ace comedian, Alli Baba, BBNaija stars, Boma Akpore and Tega Dominic, veteran actors, Hon. Desmond Eliott, Sunny Mac Don, Dr. Kester Osahenye, MTN representative, and others.
Speaking at the event, the Founder of the Organization, Ify Okeke-Ozzoude, said the organization’s root stems from her upbringing and her desire to give back to society.
In her words: ” My late father had a great influence on this project. When I was growing up, we used to give everything we owned to the less privileged every 6 months. I believe I picked this from him.
” Again as an actress, I have the platform, which can reach out to corporate bodies, who will, in turn, give through my foundation to the less privileged in the society.
“Finally, despite my not too humble background, I have had my fair share of hardship and unfortunate incidents, which prepared me for this challenge.”
The moviemaker also said she believes the foundation will help restore hope in the hopeless and upgrade their standard of living.
“Purple Campaign was born of hunger to help restore hope and self-confidence to young children, especially victims of social vices thereby upgrading their standard of living.
“Also, to bridge the disparity between the rich and poor by lending the necessary assistance and giving succor to the less privileged and downtrodden.
“In our society, there are many faces to domestic violence and victims tend to hide the scars and bruises from abuse, only to battle with the torture of their memories all alone,” Okeke-Ozzoude said
She added that the foundation can create and raise awareness on the ills of domestic violence and abuses and strive to help improve our value system.
“Therefore, the Purple Campaign seeks to create awareness against violence as a means to help bring an unparalleled revolution in the country. Also to help victims rediscover their strengths and uniqueness to be better productive in life.
“We believe that this awareness will enable us to strive to improve our value system to the height that will frown at these practices thereby, limiting the likely occurrence of domestic abuse in the country,” she added.