RAYMOND OZOJI reports
It was tears of joy and jubilation at the Idemili-South council headquarters Ojoto Anambra State on Friday 28th August this year where over 1000 beneficiaries of Hon. Mrs. Amaka Obi's life-changing human capital development programme went home with free shuttle buses, free motorcycles, free sewing machines, free oven and baking equipment, free hairdressing equipment and other free capital intensive items to fend for their families and say goodbye to abject penury and squalor.
The said empowerment programme which was the 6th edition in the series and tagged " Mother of All Empowerments" is an initiative of the Idemili-South Local Government Chairman Hon. Dr. Mrs. Amaka Obi, a platform she has deployed to train, equip and empower thousands of people in Idemili-South and beyond.
The event which was described as epic and amazingly mind-blowing by the wife of the governor Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, the APGA state chairman Hon. Barr. Ifeatu Obiokoye, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Hon. Patrick Aghadinuno Mba, the Honourable member representing Idemili-South in the 8th legislature of Anambra State Hon. Barr. Ebuka Igwe, the Honourable Commissioner for Health Dr. Ben Afam Obidike, the APGA Reps candidate for Idemili-North and South federal constituency Hon. Chief Ikenna Iyiegbu, the incoming Mayor of Idemili-south Hon. Oluchukwu Ilogbenu and other prominent persons, was equally a moment of gratitude and appreciation to Amaka Obi for building the human infrastructure.
Wife of the governor, Dr. Mrs. Nonye Soludo, who could not withhold her astonishment at what she saw, said Amaka Obi is indeed a transformer transforming lives through meaningful engagements and social schemes geared towards improving everyday life and living conditions of the people.
She said she was proud of her and that Anambra State is super proud of her because she has proven that women can do better if given the opportunity to occupy leadership positions and create a more productive society. The governor's wife therefore advised beneficiaries not sell what they have been given instead they should use them for the purpose they were meant for because she believes that the items were investments for their future.
The first lady stated that the beneficiaries will use the items to train their families, their children as well as members of the community, adding that the multi-million naira empowerment scheme was also a golden opportunity for other people to be empowered through the beneficiaries.
The Idemili-South council chairman, Hon. Dr. Mrs. Amaka Obi in her address noted that the empowerment programme was a reflection of her administration's unwavering belief that the greatest investment any government can make is investment in its people. Obi said that human capital development remained a central pillar of the administration of Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo and by extension, the government of Idemili-south Local Government Area.
Obi said she was not just distributing empowerment materials but building entrepreneurs, wealth creators, innovators and leaders who will create value, provide employment opportunities and positively impact on the society. That she believes when individuals and women were empowered with the right values, families are strengthened, communities are transformed and society experiences enduring peace and sustainable growth.
Mayor Amaka Obi who appreciated Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for his visionary leadership and prioritising human capital development, entrepreneurship and inclusive economic growth in the state, noted that her empowerment programmes in Idemili-South Local Government Area is a testament to her confidence in the beneficiaries' abilities and potentials.
She therefore encouraged them to make the best use of the empowerment materials; continue to acquire knowledge, develop their skills and also pursue their dreams and aspirations with commitment and discipline as she believes that the journey towards a better society required the active participation of everyone.
She believes government can create opportunities but observed that it takes passion, hard work and innovation to turn the opportunities into lasting success, noting that as her administration empowers more hands, build more businesses and nurture more talents; they are building the Idemili-South of their dreams where every person has the opportunity to thrive as well as contribute meaningfully to development.
Some of the beneficiaries of the 6th edition of Hon. Dr. Mrs. Amaka Obi's life-transforming empowerment programme, who spoke to this journalist on the occasion testified that Amaka Obi has lifted them from poverty, privation and frustrations because the items, according to them, would henceforth put food on their tables and help them fend for their respective families.
Ejigbalu Uzochukwu, a native of Nnobi community in Idemili-South Local Government Area, who got a free shuttle bus at the empowerment programme, said the shuttle bus given to him by Hon. Amaka Obi would boost his business greatly because he is a bread distributor in the council area.
Another beneficiary who identified himself as Charles Nwokolo from Oba community in Idemili-South, prayed that God would take Amaka Obi to a higher pedestal because he has no words to express his feelings concerning the free shuttle bus he benefitted at the 2026 edition of the Idemili-South Empowerment Programme.
Meanwhile Mrs. Chika Njekwe, a native of Awka-Etiti who was given free sewing machine, said it would boost her business. Also Olikeze Esther from Awka-Etiti said she was given free sewing machine by Hon. Amaka Obi to enable her sew clothes for people to help her family so she doesn't become a liability to the society.
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