Okrika Local Government Area (LGA) Chairman, Hon. Akuro Tobin, has stated that his campaign promises were not mere words because he has backed them up with verifiable actions.
The Council Chairman said this during a programme marking the second phase of the Tobin Akuro Prosperity Pathway (TAPP) project, a human capital development programme.
So far, a total of 500 Okrika indigenes drawn from all the communities have been empowered: 400 persons, which include traders, fishermen, market men and women were given grants to the tune of N150,000 each, while 100 persons were scheduled for different job skills trainings.
The programme, which took place at the Council’s Secretariat, saw the Chairman sign and present a symbolic Cheque of N105million, which will be disbursed to the beneficiaries.
Hon. Tobin, who emphasised that he backs-up his campaign promises with verifiable proofs, said his administration is poised to continually improve the lives of the people of Okrika.
The Chairman continued that the funds provided are also meant to train people in their chosen life skills such as industrial welding and scaffolding, hair and wigs making, beauty treatments, and fashion designing .
The beneficiaries are billed to undergo trainings that will last between three to four months.
He urged the beneficiaries to put in their best, saying that the resource persons brought to train them are amongst the best in their various fields.
Tobin reminded them that this opportunity, if taken seriously, will not only better their lives, but that of their families and the LGA as a whole.
He assured them that all the materials and equipment needed for the training will be provided, adding that if they excel at these trainings, starter packs will be given to them upon completion of the training.
The Chairman noted that electricity remains the bane of every economic growth and that no community can attain any meaningful development without steady power supply.
He also used the opportunity to dispel rumors about individuals claiming to have been paying the electricity bills for the Community.
According to him, these are baseless rumors, because the Council has been footing these bills, saying the reason for the present outage is due to a damage to a high tension pole at Akpajo.
The Chairman promised to replace fifty damaged high and low tension poles and also scheduled to hold a meeting with the Community Development Committees (CDCs) to help identify communities without poles and transformers in order to provide them
On his part, the Special Guest of Honour of the occasion, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Opibi commended Hon. Tobin, referring to him as “the performing Chairman’ .
He thanked him for he programme, especially for the skills acquisition, which, he said, will not only empower the beneficiaries, but also make them become employers of labour.
Prof. Zeb-Opibi, who was represented by Dr. Chris Biriowu, said, “the problem of this country is not unemployment but, unemploymentability”, and thanked the Chairman for creating “the pathway for employability and self-reliance”, while also urging the beneficiaries not to take the opportunity with levity.
Earlier in the programme, the Chief Executive Officer of Kingspire Resources, Kingsley Ime, gave the beneficiaries a pep talk on the power of developing a skill, saying that the economy of today is founded on enterprise and skills development.
There were good will messages from the Leader of the Renewed Hope family in Okrika, Dr. Sampson Parker; the Bishop of Okrika Diocese, Rt. Rev. Enoch Atuboyedia; and Chief Dere Biemgbo, who all advised the beneficiaries to take the opportunity seriously, saying that the programme shows the commitment and dedication of the Council Chairman to improve the lives of the people.
Also in attendance at the programme were the Vice Chairman of the Council, Hon. Charity Ibulubo; Leader of the 8th Assembly, Hon. Paul Abam; Party Stakeholders, Chiefs, Councillors, Principal Officers of the Council, and other dignitaries.
- Anyanwu is the Information/Public Relations Officer, Okrika LGA.