Brenda Chidinma Imo-Eze
The Ebonyi state Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has disbursed N3 million each to 100 selected youths across the state as start-up capital to establish businesses.
The initiative, which was flagged off on Wednesday in Abakaliki, is part of the Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Empowerment Programme (FONEP) aimed at supporting young entrepreneurs and fostering economic growth in the state.
SpringNews gathered that the 100 beneficiaries, drawn from the 13 local government areas of the state, had undergone a three-month intensive training in poultry, piggery and fishery at the Agbani Training School in Enugu.
Gov.Nwifuru represented by the Deputy Governor, Patricia Onyemaechi Obila, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of its citizens.
Speaking on behalf of the governor, Deputy Governor Obila said, “Today is another wonderful day in our lives. The day we have come to celebrate excellence, hard work, to say yes, we can do it better. Let me congratulate all of you for the wonderful training you have gone through, and today you have made us proud.”
She further urged the beneficiaries to remain focused and make the most of the opportunity.
“You have been selected from the 13 LGAs. It may not be that you are the best, but destiny knocked at your door. I want to advise all of you, use this opportunity and excel. Be focused, don’t let this training be a waste.
” Utilize this opportunity very well; you have been trained to empower others,” Obila said.
Obila emphasized that the state government’s goal, through the ‘People’s Charter of Needs,’ is to empower its people, particularly the youths.
She added, “There will be a monitoring team, from week to week, to see how you utilize this money. If you do better, more will come, and if you don’t you will be arrested and compelled to refund the money”.
Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Ann Aligwe, acknowledged the remarkable impact of the empowerment program.
“Three months ago, these selected people were sent to training school in Agbani, Enugu, some majoring in poultry, piggery, and different skills.
“Today, the governor has flagged off the disbursement of the funds. His Excellency graciously approved the disbursement of N3 million each,” Aligwe said.
She praised the administration’s focus on human development, noting, “Your Excellency, N3 million is not just N3 million; you are giving it to build them. You are not just building infrastructure; you are building lives. They are now masters on their own.”
Aligwe added that the beneficiaries had been trained to “teach people how to teach” and revealed that several Ebonyians will soon travel abroad for their master’s degrees as part of the administration’s broader development initiative.
The beneficiaries, who were selected from the 13 local government areas, expressed their gratitude for the government’s support and vowed to use the funds to establish successful businesses that would contribute to job creation and economic growth in Ebonyi State.