10 000 women benefit from Okorocha's N1bilion largess

www.odogwublog.com reports that Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha yesterday redeemed his promise of empowering ten thousand indigent women in the state with the sum of N100 000 each.

While handing the cheques to 3 500 first phase of the beneficiaries at the Imo International Convention Centre,Owerri, Governor Okorocha said the women empowerment programme was one of his election promises, adding that he was elated that he has been able to keep to the promise.

The three thousand, five hundred women involved in the first batch of the empowerment programme were selected from each of the three hundred and five wards in the state, while the rest of the women were chosen following other considerations.

Governor Okorocha said “Today we have come to further drive away poverty in Imo State by empowering 10,000 women in a whole and 3,500 in this first phase. 10 women per ward will be getting 100,000 each which is meant for business and will be returned after a while. Those who returned their loan will be given double of the initial money. It is my responsibility to provide for Imo people who surrendered their right of vote to me as their governor. This is what I am dramatizing today”.

He continued, “This is not the first time we are embarking on empowerment programme, we donated 500 million to the Niger Delta Women and Youths as part of our empowerment programme not long ago amongst other empowerment”.

“One of the greatest empowerment I have offered to Imo people is the free education which has enabled our women save money which would have been used for School fees. I have said this to Imo people, you are aware that the song going on in the country is the music of recession, but I have refused to sing this song of recession and I have continued to say that there is no recession in Imo State, the song of poverty shall never be sang in Imo State. Hence, you are seeing work going on around the State day and night and we are equally embarking on empowerments when other States are crying of lack of funds”, he added.

He pointed out that traditional rulers will serve as guarantors to the women to ensure that the right people get the loan and he also encouraged the women to make good use of the money as the fund, if put into good use can change their lives for good”.

His wife, Nkechi Okorocha who was present at the ocassion thanked him for putting smiles on the faces of Imo women whom she said will never abandon the rescue mission government.