Uduaghan tasks government officials on empowerment of rural poor

The Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has directed top government functionaries in the state to carry out economic empowerment programmes in their constituencies so as to alleviate poverty among the people.
Uduaghan, who gave the directive on Thursday in Issele-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area of the state during the inauguration of the Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei Empowerment programme for Aniocha North Women, said that the empowerment programme would help alleviate hunger among the people and make them to be able to fend for themselves.
This was in line with this administration dream of “Delta Beyond Oil.”
He gave the officials a three-month ultimatum to achieve this task and improve on the welfare of the rural populace in the state, explaining that his administration was seriously taking the State Empowerment Programme seriously to better the lives of Deltans.
He said: “I charge all government officials that have not done any form of empowerment programme for their people in their respective constituencies to go back home and empower them.
“I give you three months to do this.
“It will help alleviate poverty among our people.
“I also call on our National and State House of Assembly members to key into this empowerment programme so that our people will be able to fend for themselves.
“I have to thank Senator Ifeanyi Okowa for his own empowerment programme.
“This has helped improved on the welfare of the people in his constituency.
“This is worth emulating.”
Governor Uduaghan said that about N121 million has been spent so far on the Delta State Micro Credit Scheme in Aniocha North Local Government Area, with a total of 6,355 beneficiaries from 619 cluster groups.
He called for support and cooperation from everybody, especially political office holders, to empower the vulnerable women, youths and men in the society so as to alleviate poverty among Deltans and enable them enjoy dividends of democracy
Explaining further, the governor stated: “We are taking the State Micro Credit Scheme seriously because this is the way we can empower our people and alleviate poverty among them. That is why this administration is spending much fund on this scheme.”
He said that this year’s emphasis would be on upgrading the performing cluster groups to small scale industries to empower more people in the rural areas.
Governor Uduaghan called on more women to key into the agricultural transformation programme of the state government so as to improve the agricultural potentials of the state.
While presenting empowerment certificates and gifts to the beneficiaries, Uduaghan enjoined them to utilize the empowerment gifts for the benefit of their families.
In a welcome address, the initiator of the programme and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Victor Ochei, said the empowerment programme was initiated specifically for women in the local government council to fulfill his campaign promises to them.
He explained that the empowerment was to appreciate the women for the active support they gave to him during his election to the House of Assembly.
He said: “My dear women, I appreciate your understanding and patience.
“The women of this constituency have been so good to me.
“I am giving out today a token of cash gift of about N100,000 each to over 1,000 beneficiaries to enhance your socio-economic well-being.”