The wife of Anambra Governor Nonye Soludo has empowered 5,000 residents across the state with livelihood equipment to improve their livelihoods and strengthen household incomes.
Mrs Soludo, who presented the items to beneficiaries on Thursday in Awka, said the intervention would help residents establish or expand businesses and create sustainable sources of income.
She said the beneficiaries were selected from the state’s 376 wards after a screening process to ensure the intervention reached residents who genuinely needed support.
“We got lots of names from the 376 wards, but we did the selection to ensure that only those who need this empowerment get it.
“We want residents to become self-reliant and able to take care of themselves and their families.
“Our expectation is that the beneficiaries should go back, train and empower others,” she said.
Mrs Soludo said a monitoring mechanism had also been established at the ward level to ensure that beneficiaries used the items for their intended purposes rather than selling them.
She said the mechanism would help beneficiaries build lasting livelihoods and ensure that the empowerment programme achieved its objectives across the state.
The programme, organised under the theme, “Onye Aghana Nwanne Ya” (Be your brother’s keeper), featured the presentation of livelihood equipment and starter items to beneficiaries.
The items included ovens and baking equipment, sewing machines, hair dryers, mannequins, generating sets, grills, barbering equipment, makeup kits, refrigerators and piglets, among others.
Other items included chicks for poultry farmers, grinding machines and washing machines, which were distributed according to beneficiaries’ various trades and businesses.
One beneficiary, Blessing Azuka from Dunukofia, who received a sewing machine, said she could not afford one after completing her tailoring apprenticeship in February.
“I am grateful to the government. This empowerment is timely. I can now start small from my room until I save enough to get a shop.
“I can then expand my craft and improve my livelihood,” she said.
Another beneficiary, Stanley Ezerindu, who received a washing machine, said family expenses had made it difficult for him to save enough to purchase one.
Mr Ezerindu said he had been unable to buy the equipment since starting his laundry business because of competing family financial responsibilities.
He expressed gratitude to the government, saying the equipment would help him improve his business, attract more customers and increase his income.
He promised to make good use of the equipment and ensure he did not disappoint those who supported him.
(NAN)