40 Physically Challenged Persons, 188 youths and women from the Niger Delta region have received N300,000 each, as empowerment package from the Federal Government at the graduation Ceremonies organised by the Ministry Of Niger Delta Affairs for trainees in Edo, Delta and Akwa Ibom States, on Friday.
104 youths and women trained on fishery and poultry farming graduated from Benin-city, Edo State, 84 trainees graduated from Asaba, Delta State, while 40 Physically Challenged Persons, trained on Bead-making, confectionery and entrepreneurship, had their graduation ceremony at Amayam Clan, Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state respectively.
The Minister for Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, represented by Mr Philip Ndiomu, a Deputy Director in the Economic Empowerment Department of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, at the Benin City Centre, told the recipients to put the knowledge gained to good use.
Usani said that the training programmes were aimed at equipping participants with practical and theoretical knowledge on poultry and fishery production as well as other business management skills that would make their individual businesses grow.
The Minister advised them to put the N300,000.00 ( Three Hundred Thousand Naira) starter pack they received to good use, to the extent that they would also empower others to start their own businesses.
Usani enjoined them to patiently grow their businesses as immediate success or profit was not guaranteed.
The Minister revealed that the training and empowerment programme was continuous and assured those clamouring for inclusion that they would be considered in subsequent ones.
He added that the programme would not be stopped now as it was the dream of government to see that youth and women of the Niger Delta region became self reliant and self- sustaining.
In his remarks, Senator Mathew Urhoghide of Edo South Senatorial district, thanked the Ministry of Niger Delta Affair for partnering Edo state and other stakeholders on the project as he advised recipients of the programme ‘to utilize the opportunity to better their lots in life’ as it might never come to them again.
The Senator stressed that the programme was very important to the Federal Government as it was keen on attending to the yearnings of youths and women of the Niger Delta region.
He urged the trainees to be strategic on the businesses they do with their starter packs.
Similarly, Senator Sam Anyanwu of Imo state who was also at the graduationceremony in Benin-City, advised the trainees to take the knowledge serious, make good use of it and not waste the starter pack on frivolous things.
One of the trainees and physically challenged beneficiary from the Akwa Ibom State Centre, Prince Akaninyene Isidore noted: “Before now, persons with disabilities were insignificant in the society as far as charity is concerned, but we are grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari for developing people with disabilities through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.”
