By: Ike Philip Abiagom
No fewer than 100 cooperators from Igbuzo and neighbouring communities are set to benefit from a Federal Government-backed empowerment programme facilitated by renowned philanthropist and community leader, Pastor Idowu Okeze,(Ukpe Igbuzo) in collaboration with the Federal Cooperative College, Oji River.
The empowerment programme, scheduled to hold on Monday, August 31, 2026, at St. Augustine’s College, Igbuzo, is aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, self-reliance, job creation and sustainable economic development among beneficiaries.
As part of the initiative, participants will receive various vocational tools and equipment, including generator sets, washing machines, gas cylinders, industrial sewing machines, hair dryers, ovens, cooking pots, standing fans and other essential starter packs designed to support small-scale businesses and skilled trades.
Speaking ahead of the event, the Empowerment Coordinator, Dr. Adigwe, said the items were carefully selected to enable beneficiaries establish or expand their businesses, improve their sources of income and contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of their communities.
According to him, the programme is designed to provide practical support for trained cooperators and skilled individuals, with the broader objective of fostering financial independence, reducing unemployment and creating a new generation of entrepreneurs and employers of labour.
Investigations revealed that the 100 successful beneficiaries emerged from over 700 applicants who participated in a rigorous screening and assessment exercise.
The selection process was structured to ensure transparency and fairness, with only qualified candidates in various vocational fields making the final list.
The beneficiaries were drawn from diverse trades, including tailoring, hairdressing, dry-cleaning, leatherwork, catering and baking, barbering, electrical installation and maintenance, and make-up artistry.
The screening committee was constituted by Pastor Okeze and chaired by the President-General of the Ibusa Community Development Union (ICDU) Worldwide, Chief Victor Uchunor, with the support of other respected community leaders and stakeholders.
The forthcoming empowerment programme has generated widespread excitement across Igbuzo and neighbouring communities, with many residents describing it as a major intervention capable of reducing unemployment, stimulating small-scale enterprises and improving the living standards of beneficiaries and their families.
Community leaders have particularly commended Pastor Okeze for facilitating the initiative, noting that it reflects his longstanding commitment to youth empowerment, poverty alleviation and community development.
Observers believe the programme will have a positive ripple effect on the local economy by creating opportunities for wealth generation, encouraging productive engagement among youths and skilled workers, and strengthening grassroots economic activities.
They further noted that the initiative highlights the importance of collaboration between community leaders and government institutions in tackling unemployment and promoting inclusive economic growth at the grassroots level.