By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA — THE wife of Abia State Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, has empowered 44 indigenes of Umunneochi Council area of the State who graduated from the State Government’s sponsored skills acquisition training programme with working equipment and materials to enable them practice the various trades they learned.

Mrs Nkechi Ikpeazu presenting the equipment.

The empowerment items provided by Mrs. Ikpeazu included 12 laptops, 10 sewing machines, 12 hairdressing equipment and beancake making equipments.

She also laid a foundation stone for a borehole at the council headquarters to enable the rural people have access to good water.  Presenting the items to them, Mrs. Ikpeazu charged them to utilize the equipment properly and use them to improve their livelihood.

She reminded the beneficiaries that skills have become a very profitable venture which youths and women can use to improve their welfare as well as create employment for other people.

Mrs. Ikpeazu also urged parents, especially mothers to advise their children and wards properly when choosing their career.

In her remarks at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. Nnenna Chikezie, explained that the programme was put together by the state government to put smiles, help improve the living standards of the rural people, especially women.

Chairman of the occasion Dr. Johnson Uzoatuegwu and the Chairman of Ummunneochi Local Government Council, Mr. Okey Igwe commended Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu and her husband for the kind gesture.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Ozioma Okorie expressed gratitude to the state government for empowering them to be self-reliant and pledged that they would make good use of the equipment and skill to improve themselves.