In consolidation to Governor Udom Emmanuel's Dakkada philosophy and self-reliance, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Power, Engr Meyen Etukudo has doled out financial empowerment to 40 youths in Ukpum Minya Ward 3, Mkpat Enin local government area to help boost their businesses.
The decision according to him was to give the youths a sense of direction as well as assisting them to expand their businesses and become the millionaires that Mkpat Enin is yearning for.
The event which held at Adiaha Obong Girls high School, Ikot Ekop, Mkpat Enin local government area, saw eminent personalities from all walks of life who converged to witness the event.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Engr Etukudo said, the empowerment programme was in consonant with Governor Udom Emmanuel's obligation to always give back to the people, noting that it is wrong to visit the youths only in election periods.
He charged them to be resolute in their businesses and ensure that the money they received is duly refunded on monthly basis to enable others collect same to expand their businesses in the area.
The Power SA explained that out of 50 people that applied for the loan, 40 were selected by Madelyn Microfinance Bank that handled the screening and training exercise, adding that 31 beneficiaries will be given the cheque while nine will be retrained on various trades of their choices.
He promised to extend the benevolent to other wards and indeed the entire Mkpat Enin local government area, and urged the beneficiaries not to invest the money in vain things but engaged meaningful ventures.
Engr Etukudo who doubled as the Managing Director, Ibom power Plant, urged Mkpat Enin youths to rise to self-awakening by using their hands for meaningful things that will help them secure a better future.
In their goodwill messages, the Vice Chancellor of Akwa Ibom University, Prof Eno Ibanga and Board Chairman, Ibom Power Plant, Engr Etido Inyang lauded the Power SA for the initiative, noting that the move will help youths to be focus and self-reliance.
They announced scholarships for four undergraduate students of Ukpum Minya Ward 3 to boost the empowerment programme.
On his part, the Paramount Ruler of Mkpat Enin, HRM Edidem Akpan Akpan Ekpene extolled Engr Etukudo for touring a different line from the traditional political ways of Mkpat Enin office holders.
He called on other political office holders in Mkpat Enin to emulate the gesture of the Power SA in order to reduce youth restiveness and crime to the barest minimum.
More so, the Village Head of Ikot Ekop, Etidung (Isantim) Akpan Ufot Ekotita thanked the SA for wiping poverty away from the ward.
He recounted the various assistance rendered by the SA and charged other well meaning indigenes of the area to emulate same, noting that the People will support the SA and Governor Udom Emmanuel beyond 2019.
He recounted the various assistance rendered by the SA and charged other well meaning indigenes of the area to emulate same, noting that the People will support the SA and Governor Udom Emmanuel beyond 2019.
Those that attended the event were the Member representing Mkpat Enin state constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Engr Oto-Obong Ndem, the Clan Head of Ukpum Minya Clan, Youth Presidents of the five villages that makes up the ward, Board members of IPP, government officials, academia, and others.
High point of the event was the disbursement of the cheques to the beneficiaries.
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