SIP BENEFICIARIES STAGE SENSITISATION RALLY IN OWERRI

Reporter : CHINAZO ILECHUKWU

Some beneficiaries of N-Power and other social investment programmes of the Federal Government in Imo State have staged a sensitization rally in support of the government’s effort to fight unemployment and reduce poverty in the country.

The youth, who danced round major streets in Owerri in a motorcade, however appealed to the government to provide them with soft loans to enable them to either start or expand their businesses.

The Social investment programmes of the Federal Government, including N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfer and Trader Moni, has significantly impacted positively on the lives of some people living in Imo State.

Twenty-seven thousand youths are said to have benefitted from N-Power alone while a lot more are still enjoying other programmes under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and social Development.

Mr. Emmanuel Ajah and Chioma Onyebiri who were among those that N-Power had changed their lives positively, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for lifting them out of poverty.

Spokesperson for a group known as “South East Support for N-Power and Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development,” Mr. Williams Ugbo, said the programme had provided lifeline to youths in the south east.

He urged those who were yet to benefit to take advantage of the programme to empower themselves.

An N-Power Ambassador in the south east, Mr. Akwuobi Francis, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for sustaining the programme, assuring that more persons would be accommodated in the next batch of programme.

The Special Adviser to Imo State Governor on Sustainable Development Goals and State Focal person on Social Investment Programme, Princess Christina Udeh, assured the support of the state government to realize the objective of the programme.