600 women, youths benefit from Cross River empowerment scheme

Over six hundred women, youths in Cross River have been empowered in entrepreneurial training across the northern parts of the state.The schemes include free computer training, entrepreneurial training for youths, micro-finance assistance to traders and farmers.Other areas of benefit are sewing machines, generators worth N100m, free medical outreach to aged and widows as well as to the less privileged.

The Benefactor, representing Ogoja/Yal federal constituency, Jarigbe Agom presented these to the people at the weekend during 7th empowerment/town hall meeting in Ogoja Local Government Council.The breakdown show that over 200 indigent students both in secondary and tertiary benefitted from bursary and scholarship, 50 young men and women from different entrepreneurial skills at the Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] agric training programme with each expected to be given N2.5m, over 150 from Jarigbe’s skills acquisition scheme and 75 on transport initiative.

Besides, over 200 widows and the aged benefitted from free medical outreach just as about 50 farmers have been given farm inputs and cash.One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Cordelier Amana, 45, from urban ward in Ogoja, expressed her joy for the gift of a sewing machine that was presented to her.A youth who also benefited from the scholarship award, Benjamin Achala, thanked the Rep member for granting him scholarship.

Speaking shortly after the presentations, Agom said: “I humbly presented myself for election before my people and they voted massively for me.“Therefore, I came here to give back what they gave me in 2015 because I am only holding the power on their behalf. What I have done here today cannot be compared to what they have done for me, but this is just the beginning, the best of me is yet to come.

“It is in appreciation of the mandate that I again decided to give out four vehicles, 31 pieces of brand new bikes, 36 sewing machines, 25 grinding machines and 10 generators as well as cash of about N10m to the needy.

“I am massively grateful to my /people and God willing, the next exercise will be better than this one. I thank them all for the opportunity to represent them and pray that God will meet them all at their respective points of need.”The parliamentarian enjoined the beneficiaries to make judicious use of their items and possibly invest wisely so they teach others in various skills.

Speaking at the event, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, representing the Governor, Martin Orim, said “Jarigbe’s empowerment programme has raised the bar, especially for a first time House of Reps. I can tell you that the governor is happy and impressed that the people who voted in the parliamentarian are actually the direct beneficiaries.

“From what is happening, any elected representative that does not perform well will be voted out. This office is held in trust for the people and our elected officials need to report to the people, as the office is not a personal thing.