Our constituency empowerment programme meant to ease burden of women, engage youths – Ikwunne

The member representing Awka North State Constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Chimezie Ikwunne, has empowered no fewer than 150 constituents, saying the empowerment equipment are meant to ease the burden of women and engage youths positively.

The lawmaker distributed empowerment materials worth over N150 million to improve their living standards and promote development in the area.

Speaking at the empowerment programme on Sunday in Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area of the state, the lawmaker, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, said the initiative was designed to provide support and relief to his constituents.

He said: “This empowerment is about restoring dignity to rural life, engaging the youths, easing the burden on women and creating a foundation for inclusive development,” he said.

Ikwunne also commended Gov. Chukwuma Soludo for responding to the needs of Awka North residents through the construction of the Amansea-Awba Ofemili road linking five communities in the area.

According to him, the road project has improved agricultural productivity and eased the transportation of persons and arm produce to markets.

“Before now, the road was in very bad condition and even motorcycles found it difficult to ply it.

“As an agrarian community, Gov. Soludo has changed the narrative and brought development to our area.

“I applied for this job and I rededicate myself to listen more, serve better and work harder,” he said.

He stated that the beneficiaries were selected from different communities in the constituency and comprised of youths, women, men, community leaders, artisans and traders.

Items distributed included 15 shuttle buses, 35 motorcycles, 30 grinding machines, 31 hair dryers and 35 sewing machines, alongside cash support for beneficiaries.

The event was attended by the state chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, the Deputy Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Mr Chukwuma Okoye, a prominent community leaders, Chief Lawrence Onwuzuka, among others.

Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the lawmaker for the gesture and pledged to use the support to boost their businesses and improve their living conditions.

Mr Ifesinachi Onwunili from Achalla community, who received a shuttle bus, said he would use it to generate income with the aim of purchasing another bus within the next one year.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Theresa Okonkwo, a trader from Ebenebe community who received a grinding machine, said the equipment would boost her business and enable her to better support her family.