By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—Indigenous technicians and engineers have been challenged to work towards the local manufacturing of tricycles in the country.

Imo State Coordinator, National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Mr. Oliver Enwerenem, threw the challenge at the commissioning ceremony of 20 units of KEKE-NAPEP, financed by the Owerri Catholic Archdiocesan’s Chikum Micro-Finance Bank Limited.

“Manufacturing these tri-cycles locally will  create more jobs for the unemployed, as well as contribute to the poverty alleviation programme of the present administration,” Enwerenem said.

Speaking, the Chairman, Board of Directors of the bank, who is also the Catholic Archbishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, Dr. Anthony Obinna, said that the event will remain evergreen in his memory.

He, however,  regretted the rate at which trust and honesty are fast disappearing in the Nigerian society and advised the beneficiaries to work hard to improve their wellbeing, as well as repay the loans so that others would enjoy the facility.

Earlier, the Managing Director, Mr. Samuel Ukoh, explained that the bank has an agreement with Three Wheelers Association to finance a total of 100 units of tri-cycles.