By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN CITY — FOLLOWING his resolve to fight poverty in the state, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday, launched Poverty Eradication Lottery for the people of the state, to empower unemployed youths and artisans.

The lottery which is being  organised by a Lagos based firm, Absolute Direct Communication Ltd, in collaboration with the state government, attracted market women, artisans and unemployed youths. Items to be won include motorcycles, hairdressing equipment, grinding machine, clippers, generators, gas cookers, sewing machines, bags of rice, among others.

The state Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Abdul Oroh, who represented Governor Oshiomhiole at the event, recalled that after the Governor was sworn-in, one of the promises he made to the people was to ensure that poverty was reduced to the barest minimum.

He explained that the state government decided to collaborate with the firm to ensure that the promise was fulfilled, hinting that  the lottery, which would last for two months and could be played for just N200, was one way artisans and the downtrodden could be empowered to begin a business of their own.

Oroh explained that it was due to the resolve by government to tackle poverty that it decided that items to be von would economically empower the people be provided for the event even in the face of the current socio_economic challenges.

On her part, the state Director of Poverty Alleviation Committee, Mrs Evelyn Igbafe,  said “the items were carefully selected because the Governor is committed to doing only those things that would add value to the lives of the people of the state.”

Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Absolute Direct Communications Ltd, Mr Clement Omolue, said the scheme would engage over 4,500 youths for the two months exercise, adding that they would be engaged in the selling of the raffle tickets.