The federal government, through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has empowered 58 women and youths of the region with N300,000 starter packs.
Speaking Tuesday, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, where the event took place, the Minister, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, said the programme was to support youths and women who are in need of empowerment.
The beneficiaries who cut across Bakassi and Odukpani council areas of Cross River state, as stated in a press release signed by Deputy Director of press and public relations, Stephen Kilebi, had undergone a training and empowerment programme for two weeks, in fishery and poultry.
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Charging the beneficiaries on judicious use of the fund, the minister recalled that some persons in the past had lavished the money given to them, adding that such attitude does not tally with the aim of the programme.
Represented by the Director of Economic Empowerment, Mr. Ibrahim Akanya, he discloseded that the programme has been running for about six years now.
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Tasking them to establish businesses in the fields they have been trained, fishery, poultry and other value chain of production like marketing, Usani emphasized on their depending on and developing the skill acquired and not relying on the “stipend” given to them.
According to him, some trainees who in the past were serious, developed themselves and are now consultants or engaged as resource persons in some of the Ministry’s empowerment programmes.
On their part, the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the federal government and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, for the programme.
A participant, Elder Edet Okon, promised to put to practice the knowledge acquired and make good use of the resources.
However, appealing to the Ministry to continue the empowerment programme as it will help more youths, he implored the Ministry to increase the starter pack for future participants.
