By NewsCritic Reporters
The Member representing Umuahia Central State Constituency at the 8th Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Anthony Chinasa last weekend attended the 2023 August Meeting of the Ugo Enyiukwu Women Association, during which he gave out business grant to over 20 women with a promise to replicate the gesture in all the communities in the constituency.
Addressing a mammoth gathering of women and special guests at the event which took place at Ahiama Afara, Hon Anthony Chinasa who is the Chairman House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said he took the decision to start the empowerment programme that would be progressive in nature to support the women to succeed in life.
He disclosed that an initial sum of N1 million has been made available to the first group of 20 women, who were given N50,000 each as business support. According to the lawmaker, the money will be administered by the leadership of the Enyiukwu Women Association, as he hopes to increase the slot to 40 women within the next six months.
Said Hon Anthony Chinasa “as you all are aware, we just started and a lot of reforms are ongoing in the Abia political system now and nothing has happened. So, I decided to commence this my empowerment programme for our women at Enyiukwu because charity begins at home. I’ve plans to replicate same in the entire constituency to support the women become self-reliant.
“I’ve given N1 million to the leadership of the Enyiukwu women and they are to administer the money the way they deemed it necessary because it’s their money. From what they told me I understand that this money will return to them after the duration of six months to allow other women access the grant. On my part I promised to expand the number to about 40 women any time the facility is returned.
“The idea is that by the time the present executive leaves office these women will have something to transfer to the new leadership and I believe that by the end of our tenure the amount will rise to above N5 million in the coffers of the Enyiukwu women association.
In her welcome address President of the Ugo Enyiukwu Women Association, Chief (Mrs) Joy Mbonu thanked the Royal Father of the Day HRH Eze and Ugoeze P.K Ukaegbu the Enyi 1 of Enyiukwu autonomous community and other invited guests for coming to grace the occasion of the August Meeting with the Theme “A Woman With Difference”.
She said that the economic situation in the country today is uncertain with many families impoverished and suffering, adding that her administration has come up with measures to alleviate the sufferings of the women. She thanked Hon Anthony Chinasa for the grant made available to the women to engage in gainful economic activities to sustain their families, and urged other illustrious sons to emulate the kind gesture and support the women.
