Women drawn from the 12 Local Government Areas in Eket Senatorial District, today smiled home with a N100,000 (one hundred thousand naira) cash gift each from the Wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor. Patience Umo Eno.
The cash distribution which is in line with the women empowerment component of her pet project, Golden Initiative For All, (GIFA) is aimed at boosting their businesses and as well as sustaining their means of livelihood.
Distributing the cash at Royalty Hotels, Eket the Governor’s Wife represented by the President, of Eket Senatorial District Women Forum, Mrs. Idara Ephraim Akpan urged the beneficiaries to utilize the funds judiciously by deploying them to grow their various businesses, and wished them success in their endeavours.
Mrs Akpan, who described Governor, Umo Eno as gender friendly, assured the Women of more government support, saying better days lie ahead for Akwa Ibom women under the current administration.
“We are so fortunate to have a mother who at this time that Nigeria is going through severe economic hardship, sees what the women are going through and has talked to her husband on the need to put smiles on the faces of our Women.
“I want to believe that the seed you are given today will germinate and grow. The Governor’s wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno sees the need to give women financial support to aid their business. Today, our mother has decided to empower the women of Eket Senatorial District”.
An Aide of the Governor’s Wife, Mrs. Anne Abraham who tasked the beneficiaries with resource management, reminded them that the only way they can show appreciation to the Governor’s Wife for her benevolence towards them is to ensure that they invest the money wisely in a productive venture that would yield profits.
She cautioned them against using the funds for purposes other than investing in the business, disclosing that a monitoring team would be visiting their business premises to track their financial records and ascertain how the grants are utilized.
“We are investing in the prosperity and progress of the entire society because when you empower a woman, you empower the entire society. Her Excellency has shown tremendous support to this course. Women Empowerment is one of the thematic areas of the Golden Initiative For All,(GIFA) and I want to advise all the beneficiaries to make good use of the funds. Don’t use your money to buy eyelashes, don’t use it to compete with anyone. Make sure you keep records. When you don’t keep proper records, you won’t be able to track progress to know if you are making any headway. Identify where your potential is. Look at your areas of strength.
She enjoined the Women to be business conscious, by saving and investing wisely.
While congratulating the beneficiaries in the first phase of the GIFA Women Cash Empowerment flag-off, Mrs Abraham advised women in other Senatorial Districts who are yet to receive the grants to exercise patience and wait for their turn, assuring that the empowerment would reach everyone.
Among those who delivered goodwill messages at the event include the chairman of Eket Local Government Transition Committee, Rt. Hon. Akaniyene Tommy, represented by the Vice-Chairperson of the council, Hon. Comfort Okon, Wife of Eastern Obolo Local Government Transition Committee Chairman, Mrs Glory Bill, who spoke on behalf of WALGON, Barr. Ann Eyo and Obonganwan Mary Umana Ette, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Imaobong Markson thanked the Governor’s Wife for her benevolence and prayed to God to reward her for putting smiles on their faces. She pledged their readiness to make judicious use of the funds in growing their business.
In attendance at the event were female stakeholders in the Senatorial district including wives of Local Government Chairmen, the Executive Chairman, Ethical and Attitudinal Re-Orientation Commission, EARCOM, Dr. Dorothy Thompson, officials of Eket Senatorial District Women Forum, members of the GIFA team, as well as Aides and Staff of the office of the Wife of the Governor.
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