BY ANAYO OKOLI
UMUAHIA— No fewer than 1,200 indigent people in Abia State, especially widows, are to benefit from payment of monthly stipend of N5,000 under the Social Subsidy Scheme of National Poverty Eradication Programme, NAPEP.

Beneficiaries are also to be given N100,000 grant each to enable them start their own trade, nine months after.

These came as Abia State government weekend planned to set up community radio broadcasting stations in the 17 local government areas of the state to bring the activities of government closer to the rural people.

Beneficiaries  of the NAPEP subsidy scheme were selected through the office of wife of  Abia State governor, Mrs. Mercy Orji, and they were said to have been selected from the wards to ensure that the real poor people were chosen.

However, only three local government areas, including Aba North, Ohafia and Umuahia South were the first councils to benefit, with each getting a slot for 400 persons.

State Coordinator of NEPAD, Mr. Emeka Longman Nwachukwu, who disclosed this while speaking with newsmen, also announced that the community radio stations to be set up by the state government could take off in June.

Nwachukwu, who is also the Special Adviser to Governor Theodore Orji on NEPAD,  said the aim was to bring information on government activities and programmes closer to the rural people, so they could key into them.

He disclosed that project was being facilitated by a non-governmental organization , which is partnering the government.

He explained that the The NGO would provide the transmitters, while government would provide the logistics, including accommodation.

The stations would be broadcasting in native dialect of the areas they are located to achieve the desired impact.

Describing the project as the first of its kind in the country, Nwachukwu said  the staff would be trained under NEPAD arrangement.

According to him, after nine months of N5000 stipend, the Social Subsidy beneficiaries would be given N100,000 to assist them begin a trade to further better their living standard.