FIC Report (Abia State) – The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation has organized a sensitization Program in Abia State on the Intervention Programs of the Federal Government.
The Federal Government retreated it’s commitment in making life easy for her citizens following the recent Policy changes by providing wide range Intervention Programs which will be beneficial to all, irrespective of area of specialization.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris who was ably represented by the Head, Federal Information Centre, Abia, Mrs Gloria Abiakam, said in his speech, that Government is not blind to the challenges which the citizens are facing due to the recent Policy changes particularly the removal of fuel subsidy nor indifferent but have embarked on a broad Intervention Programs designed to ease the adverse effects.
In his words, “The Government remains deeply committed to cushioning the effects of this changes through a series of strategic initiatives aimed at addressing various sectors and needs of our people. These programs are vital for fostering of economic growth, creating job opportunities, and enhancing the quality of life for every Nigerian”.
Mr Mohammed said hope is alive, that amidst the changes, a multitude of opportunities are being created to help cushion the effects of this policy. According to him, the Federal Government is committed to standing by the people, ensuring that no one is left behind.
“The intervention Programs are designed with us in mind, they are meant to empower, uplift, and provide relief where it is most needed.”
The Minister said these initiatives are not just programs, but lifelines opportunities for us to grow, thrive, and secure a brighter future.
Some of these initiatives include: Student Loan Scheme, Consumer Credit Corporation, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Digital and Creative Enterprises, Skill-Up Artisans Program (SUPA), National Youth Talent Export Program (NATEP), Housing Initiatives, Nano-Business Support, Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA), Micro and Small Business Loans, NDDC Internship Scheme for Niger Delta Youths.
In her speech, the Director of State National Orientation Agency, Mrs Regina Iroha, said they are here to sensitize the people of Abia, to educate them, enlighten and create awareness on what the Federal Government wants us to do about the Policies.
Mrs Iroha said for Government to be inclusive and participatory, there is every need for the people, the citizens to be carried along in whatever they are doing. That is why the successive Government in Nigeria saw it fit to create Orientation and Information offices to create awareness that give out Information. Outreaches that will be a bridge between the Federal Government and the citizens in the States, down to the Local communities.
The people now been governed will be able to contribute to those Policies which Government are proposing. When this Government policies and programs are taken to the people, through the feedback of the people who participated, the Government will be able to know the feelings and aspirations of the people towards these policies. In the process, the Government will be able to capture their own feelings.
The NOA Director said the reason for this program is for us to convey this Intervention Programs and sensitize our people on the different intervention schemes available for us.
She said the programme is not about us sitting here but we are vehicles to disseminate the messages, to take back the good message to our people.
She urged the Religious leaders in attendance to take the intervention Programs back to their people and incorporate the message learnt into the benefits they give out to their subjects in the rural communities.
She decried that the Intervention Programs are for all of us, hence, we would not be doing ourselves any good when we don’t buy into these initiative programs rolled out by the Federal Government.
The Chairman of the occasion, Hon. Jerry Uzosike in his speech said he is happy to hear the measures taken by the Federal Government to ameliorate the hardship the citizens are passing through as a result of the removal of the fuel subsidy.
He said he was shocked and embarrassed when he found out that, out of the millions of naira the Federal Government released for the students loans for various Institutions in the different Zones of the country, he couldn’t find any name of the students from the South East universities.
Hon. Jerry Uzosike pleaded with the Heads of Parastatals, NGOs, Organizations, Market women, religious groups, CSOs , Artisans , different groups etc and all the participants of the program to take advantage of the program and sensitize the people under them. He also pleaded with the Media people to publish, circulate, educate and inform the people of what is happening in the Federal Government intervention Programs.
He encouraged the Religious Leaders to take the message back to their subjects in the rural communities, the market leaders back to the market women, the NGOs and Civil servants. He also urged every other representative to take home the message to their people so that everyone will take advantage of the intervention Program applicable to him or her.
He, however, pleaded with the Press people to make out time in their respective beats to publicise and broadcast this information.
He stressed that the importance of the sensitization Program cannot be over emphasized.
He employed the participants to be attentive to the Resource person and pen done every information given, and should thereafter visit the websites relevant to them.
Barr. Uzosike also encouraged them to go back to educate the people in their area of specializations.
In his words” Combining the Federal Government intervention Programs with the work the State Governor, Dr. Alex Oti is doing, Nigeria and Abia State will be a better place.
Some of the questions asked in the course of the program was what would the citizens that don’t have Android phones do to access the intervention schemes, and they were told to access it through the business centers (cyber cafe).
How can the people in the rural areas who are uneducated access these loans, they were also directed to go to cyber cafe nearest to them were they will be assisted to upload their details.
One of the representatives of the physically challenged people asked how the blind are being carried along in all these, as the process of getting benefited is somehow rigorous, they were told that, there is a kind of step down procedure for them.
The Sensitization Program was graced with the presence of the Minister of Information and National Orientation who was ably represented by Mrs Gloria Abiakam, the Director ,State National Orientation Agency, Mrs Regina Iroha, Formal Member of Abia State House of Representatives, Hon. Jerry Uzosike, Traditional Leaders, Religious leaders, Market women leaders, Students from different Tertiary Institutions, Social Media Influencers, the Press, the disability community, representatives of various Organizations, denominations and people from all walks of life.
The Federal Information Centre, Umuahia did the proper sensitization of Abians on the Federal Government Intervention Initiatives on Wednesday, 18th September, 2024.
The staff joined with Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Abia State to create serious awareness on the need for all to embrace the all important programmes with the mobile Android phone or through the Cyber cafe.
The FIC staff went round the town canvassing for patronage of the websites especially the students loan.
Mrs Okezie Grace
FIC, Umuahia, Abia State.
