By: Ike Philip Abiagom
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Director of Procurement, Federal Cooperative College,Orji River, Mr.Idewu.C. Okeze has flagged off the distribution of Twenty(20) tricycles and twenty five(25) motor cycles as part of Federal Government of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Agriculture administration sustainable economic plan to empower the teeming Cooperative youths in Ibusa.
He described this as historic as it demonstrated Federal Government of Nigeria commitment to improving living conditions and providing opportunities, especially for the teeming Cooperatives youths. He said this administration will continue the quest to improve the socio-economic life of the ordinary people, it had extended the welfare and economic support programme to Cooperatives Youths in Ibusa.
“Like other support and economic empowerment programmes of this administration, this intervention is aimed at promoting the socio-economic advancement and self-reliance of the common man and increasing the availability of easy-to-use means of transportation for our people,” Mr. Okeze said.
He said twenty tricycles and twenty five motorcycles were provided for forty five(45) individuals through Federal Government of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Agriculture Human Capital Development Initiative.
Okeze said this was, among other interventions, in addition to the training of thousands of youths cooperators that had been engaged through Federal Cooperative College,Orji River to train self-employable Nigerians through the effective creation and encouragement of cooperative societies.
The Director of Procurement said beneficiaries of the empowerment programme were nominated from the various villages regardless of their political affiliation, religion or tribe.
“This further affirms the Federal Government of Nigeria support to every citizen of Nigeria without bias. By this discounted revolving rider-owner arrangement, it is envisaged that these beneficiaries will earn a living for themselves and their families through this partnership and subsequently give a window for another batch of beneficiaries to be selected in due course,” he added.
According to Okeze “These items were given out to each of the beneficiaries free of charge, it is not a loan or a facility from anybody and nobody is expected to be settled or compensated by any beneficiary.”
Okeze urged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity to pursue a decent livelihood devoid of any wrongdoing, recklessness or violation of the law.
Also speaking, the Uwolo of Ibusa,High Chief Amaechi Nwaenie,who represented the senior diopka of Ibusa said the series of empowerment programmes of the present administration were broad-based, multi-disciplinary and just a tip of the iceberg.He encourages the youths to take advantage of this empowerment to move to the next level.
Anthony Nwaoboshi, one of the beneficiaries of the tricycles said his joy knew no bounds with the donation from the Federal Government. He said the keke given to him would assist in his farming activities. “No word can be used to express my joy for this gift.”
He said the gesture by FGN was timely as it came at a time when they were in dire need of support.
