The Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, has distributed minibuses, tricycles, and cash gifts of N100,000 to constituents as part of his empowerment programme.
Speaking during the distribution ceremony on Saturday in Calabar, Ekpenyong noted that the initiative was meant to complement the development efforts of President Bola Tinubu and Governor Bassey Otu in supporting Nigerians to improve their economic well-being.
“What we are doing is just to complement the efforts and the wonderful works of His Excellency, Bola Tinubu, and our dear Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu.
“Today, we are here to train our young men and women in skills acquisition, give grants for start-ups, and empower our people with capital items, from minibuses to keke napep,” he said.
He explained that the items were sourced through federal agencies at the national level and urged beneficiaries not to sell them.
“Do not sell these capital items. Do not kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Maintain them and sustain your family for months and years to come. If you sell them off, you end up with a one-time gain,” he stressed.
Ekpenyong added that the empowerment programme would be sustained and called on residents to continue supporting the administration of President Bola Tinubu.
Director of Commercial and Industrialisation at the NDDC, Barrister Linda Okara, said 150 minibuses and 200 keke napep were distributed, adding that the initiative was a collaborative effort with Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, who chairs the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs.
Okara stated that the selection of beneficiaries was done at the grassroots level to ensure inclusivity.
“This is done by stakeholders so that it does not look like we are imposing people, but that these names are brought forward from the grassroots,” she said.
The NDDC State Director in Cross River, Daniel Ajunwa, said the intervention was part of efforts to engage youths, reduce unemployment, and curb criminality.
“Today, Asuquo Ekpenyong has decided to fulfil his promise to his people. He brought all these vehicles and buses to give to the youths to make them self-reliant,” Ajunwa said.
On her part, Arit Nyong, speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked the lawmaker for fulfilling his campaign promises, noting that the empowerment initiative was a call to self-reliance.
“We are grateful to our leader, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, for this kind gesture. We will continue to pray for him. We are thanking him for having the heart to fulfil his campaign promises.
“This will surely transform and better our lives and make us self-independent,” she added.
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