… Seeks to empower 120 business owners, 60 businesses in 2023
The Transition Committee Chairman of Orumba North Local Government Area, Hon. Sir Ogo Ekwueme has presented his manifesto for the local government tagged, “Our LG, Our Future” to the stakeholders in a ceremony which held at the Council’s Secretariat at Ajalli on Thursday, Nov 17th, 2022.
Presenting the document to the guests, Ekwueme explained that a lot of thought had gone into the document which he said was tilted towards the comparative advantage of the local government adding that the idea was to have a direction in their developmental strides cum plan as well as have a tool to measure their successes.
“In the light of the above dear office holders and stakeholders in the LGA, I present to you our Manifesto tagged, “Our LG, Our Future. This is so tagged because as the popular saying goes, ‘East or West, home is the best.’ Therefore, our future is tied closely to what we can make of our LG as this is where I believe most of us will retire to.
“Our Manifesto focuses on six key areas referred to as our six points agenda: Agriculture, Health Care, Skill Acquisition, Security, Sports and Environment. We also want to use this opportunity of all of us gathered here today to kick off the Orumba North Skill Acquisition Programme, ONSAP by sharing the immediate plans we have. We are starting off building capacity in three areas – soft skills, hard skills and entrepreneurship.
“Our ICT training where we will be training 30 youths every quarter on graphic designing, hardware repairs, MS Office master class, CCTV installation; our craft programme is subdivided into furniture making, wig making, leather manipulation; our Millionaire Marathon Competition – this is a quarterly competition for existing micro businesses within Orumba North that will be passed through a rigorous selection process. Shortlisted individuals will attend world class business seminars for CEO to equip them for the competition. Selected businesses will be awarded business grants based on their ability to pitch their business proposals for expansion to an esteemed group of judges.
“We expect that in the year 2023, 120 business owners will be trained on how to run their businesses effectively. Again, 60 businesses will get cash injections for expansion. This should boost employment in the area. Registration forms for each of the above-mentioned programme will be available at a nominal fee from the Council headquarters in the Office of the Deputy Chairman from Tuesday the 24th of November, 2022”, he said.
On how to fund the programme, the Chairman hinted that the stakeholders’ involvement would be needed in this area adding that this was so because it was their future that was being discussed in this regard.
He added, “In no distant future, I will be calling on stakeholders across the length and breadth of our LG to support us financially in building our local government into a liveable and prosperous homeland for us and our children.”
Stakeholders who spoke at the event including the Chairman of the occasion and Vice President, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Damian Okeke, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, Commissioner for Works, Hon. Ifeanyi Okoma, Member representing Orumba North Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Emeka Aforka, the Accountant General of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwudi Okoli, APGA House of Representatives candidate for Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, Sir Eric Eze among others lauded Hon. Ekwueme and his team for a well thought out programme which they believed that if religiously implemented, will change the fortunes of the people of Orumba North.
While pledging to work with him to make those projects a reality, they further pledged to offer financial and moral support where necessary to ensure the success of the projects. They also described the unveiling of the manifesto as unprecedented in the history of the local government while thanking Hon. Ekwueme for toeing the path of his late father, Dr. Alex Ekwueme who they described as a development oriented icon of our time.
Other dignitaries present at the occasion included the Traditional Ruler of Omogho Community, HRH, Igwe Raphael N. Ofor and wife, the Traditional Ruler of Ndiokolo community, HRH, Igwe C.C Okoli, Chairman, All Progressives Grand Alliance, formerly, Orumba North, Chief Festus Alukwe, SA to Governor Willie Obiano on Agriculture, Chief Cyril McCarthy Nwobu (Mmili), High Chief Ambrose Egwuonwu, Presidents General, Women and Youth leaders, party stalwarts among others.
Photo: Hon. Sir Ogo Ekwueme, Transition Committee Chairman, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
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