Business activities received a major boost in Odufor Community, Etche Ward 8, on Saturday as former Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Engr. Austen Ben-Chioma, DSSRS, empowered 50 women with cash grants to grow their businesses.
The empowerment programme, which has already covered Afara Community, is designed to go round all communities in Umuselem Clan, with Nihi Community next in line.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Coordinator of the scheme, Comr. Kingsley Onyenma Nweake, told the women that the initiator, Hon. Chioma, initiated the scheme out of deep concern for women, even though he is not currently holding any political office.
Comr. Nweake disclosed that Hon. Chioma has great respect for the Leader of the Rainbow Coalition, Chief Barr. Nyesom Wike, and is committed to Wike's cause of re-electing President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for a second term.
He stressed that it is a task that must be accomplished and advised the women to ensure they have their Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs).
According to him, the best way to thank Hon. Chioma for his goodwill is to vote for all Rainbow Coalition candidates. He assured the women that more dividends will come their way if they support President Tinubu and Hon. O. K. Chinda in the forthcoming general elections.
In his remarks, Hon. Chioma, Leader of the Rainbow Coalition in Umuselem and a grassroots philanthropist, said the scheme is driven by his belief that women remain the most economically vulnerable group in society.
"Women constitute a substantial majority of the world's poor. The prevalence of female-headed households, their lower earning capacity and limited control over income makes them and their dependants most vulnerable. Any development that does not improve the welfare of women has failed," he said.
He noted that bringing women into the economic mainstream is key to real development.
The beneficiaries, drawn from traders, farmers and widows, expressed gratitude, describing the support as timely and life-changing in the face of current economic hardship.
Hon. Chioma reaffirmed his commitment to sustain the programme, stating that empowering women is empowering families and the entire community.
