The wife of the governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano has given the people of Omasi-Uno in Ayamelum Local Government Area reason to cheer and look forward to with the promise of four new water borehole projects and the immediate reconstruction and upgrade of the existing broken borehole which is the only source of water supply to the community.
Mrs. Obiano gave the assurance when she visited the community, Wednesday, to explore ways of alleviating their water supply challenges.
The only source of water is from a broken borehole constructed in 1998 under the Anambra State Agricultural Development Programme Rural Community Borehole project.
Speaking on her mission to Omasi-Uno, Mrs. Obiano told the people that she came in the spirit of Onye aghana Nwanneya which means “To be our brothers and sisters keeper,” as espoused by APGA, to confer with them and agree on the best way to ameliorate the water supply problem in the community.
She said, “It is pathetic that such problem of acute water scarcity still exists in our state. I have seen the broken down borehole and I want to assure that work will commence on it tomorrow. We will also undertake additional search for water in the area where we will construct four more boreholes that will serve your community.”
In an emotion laden voice, the wife of the governor lamented the dire water supply situation of Omasi-Uno.
She noted it’s negative impact on the health of the community especially the women, drawing attention to a woman she saw bending continuously to scoop water with baby strapped on her back and why such should not be allowed.
Hence she called on everyone especially government appointees in the area not to abandon their people but rather touch lives whenever they could.
Mrs. Obiano also called on the rural farmers and traders to try and access the N1bn Micro credit facility from the Central Bank of Nigeria which was managed by the Anambra State Small Business Agency (ASBA) for loan to market women, petty traders, artisans etc., since that would help grow their businesses.
Mrs. Obiano who is the founder of Caring Family Enhancement Initiative (CAFÉ), an NGO which amongst its numerous programmes for the less privileged is undertaking the construction of boreholes in some hard-to-reach communities, said that immediately the water challenge of Omasi-uno was brought to her attention she decided to come and see, stressing that CAFÉ intervention was without prejudice to the programmes earmarked on by government for the community.
In her brief remark, Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. (Mrs.) Victoria Chikwelu, told Omasi community how she was sent to find out the situation in Omasi-Uno and how fortunate they were with the prompt response of the wife of the governor.
She recalled a similar intervention by Mrs. Obiano at Basden Memorial Special Education Centre in Isulo, which yielded water supply amongst other projects.
Earlier in welcome address, Hon. Paul Obiora said that the visit was programmed by God.
He urged the government to pay attention to Omasi as food basket, and urged Mrs. Obiano to help carry their appeal for the construction of access road to the community to the governor, a plea which was re-echoed by the President of Omas-Uno Town Union, Mr. Cyprian Ike who also appealed for assistance with water and access road.
In his vote of thanks, Member Representing Ayamelum in Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Okafor thanked the wife of the governor for visiting Omasi-Uno.
He highlighted the agricultural investments like Excel Farms and Coscharis farms sited in the area and urged the governor to approve provisions already made for road projects in the 2016 Budget.
He equally assured that the people of Ayamelum were supporting the governor always.
PHOTO CAPTION
Pix 1(L-R): Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Victoria Chikwelu and Traditional Ruler of Omasi, HRH, Benjamin Okeji JP inspecting the only source of drinking water at Omasi-uno, Ayamelum Local Government Area.
Pix 2(L-R): Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, wife of the Local Government Chairman, Mrs. Oluchukwu Obiora and the Local Government Chairman, Mr. Paul Obiora during the visit to Omasi-uno recently.
Pix 3(L-R): Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Mrs. Victoria Chikwelu, Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano, and Member Representing Ayamelum in Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Obinna during the visit to Omasi-uno recently.
Pix 4(L-R): Wife of the Governor of Anambra State, Chief (Mrs.) Ebelechukwu Obiano shaking hands with students of Universal Secondary School Omasi who came out to receive her during the visit recently.
Pix 5: Cross-section of Ndi Ichie at Omasi-uno reception for the wife of the Governor recently.
Pix 6: Cross-section of women and children at Omasi-uno reception for the wife of the Governor recently.
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