Chike Okoli Foundation (COF), a non-profit organisation founded in May 2006 celebrated its 16th Heart & Soul Gala in grand style on Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the Shell Hall Muson Center, Onikan Lagos.
Named after the Late Chike Edward Okoli, COF whose aims include fighting poverty and disease while fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths, according to the Board of Trustees (BoT) has in the last sixteen years of operation reached over I.5 million people across Nigeria. The foundation has also sensitized the people to the dangers of cardiovascular disease and how to make lifestyle interventions.
In 2011, COF completed and opened the CHIKE Okoli Centre of Entrepreneurial Studies (COCES) at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, to provide entrepreneurship training.
The centre runs a two-year Diploma Programme on Entrepreneurship. This programme has trained over 2,000 entrepreneurs and also runs the University general course on entrepreneurship for every 200/300 level undergraduate student irrespective of discipline.
COCES is also the Enterprise Development Centre partner for the Pan Africa University and serves as the training centre for the South/East zone in Grooming Enterprise Leaders (GEL) and the YOU Win program projects of the Federal Government.
Other objectives of the Chike Okoli Foundation also include but are not limited to:
• To use all proper and culturally acceptable media to draw attention to CVDs, working closely with various youth development organizations/institutions.
• Publication and distribution of health information materials on cardiovascular diseases for public enlightenment.
• Partnership with leading health institutions to provide free screening, consulting and referral services to members of the public who require such services.
The Heart and Soul Gala night, is an annual event organised by Chike Okoli Foundation to reflect on its activities, celebrate the short but eventful life of Chike Edward Okoli as well as raise funds to support the principle and ideals for which he lived.
