Afikpo (Ebonyi)- A lawmaker in Ebonyi, Chief Kingsley Ikoro (PDP-Afikpo North West), has presented clothes, foodstuff and cash to women of Oziza community in his constituency during their annual August meeting.
Presenting the items on Tuesday in the community, Ikoro said he would establish a fish pond to empower youths and reduce crime in his constituency.
He said that he had met with the youth in the area to decide on the appropriate ways of empowering them as ‘white collar’ jobs were no longer easy to come by.
“Youths should realise that there is economic downturn in the country and the best way to be economically empowered is to resort to agriculture which was formerly the mainstay of the nation’s economy.
“The youths of my constituency will be employed to manage fish ponds and modalities for sharing the proceeds will be formulated.
“This will go a long way in reducing the rate of unemployment in my constituency. They will also engage in other agricultural and self-empowerment ventures,” he said.
He commended the women for their patience and sacrifice, noting that the gesture was to identify with them having worked to ensure his election victory and that of the PDP in the state.
“You have various women organisations in communities which make up this constituency but I urge you to come together and form an umbrella organisation to be known as the Afikpo North-West Constituency Women Association.
[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”10″]
“I also commend our stakeholders who ensured the party’s success in the constituency and local government area and I pledge to always justify the confidence reposed in me,” he said.
The lawmaker donated N50,000 to each of the women organisations in the constituency.
The PDP Chairman for Oziza/Ibii ward, Chief Egwu Okpani, commended Ikoro for the gesture, noting that he was the first legislator from the constituency to blaze such a trail.
The National President of the Oziza Development Union, Women’s wing, Mrs Anthonia Ndukwe, also commended Ikoro for the gesture, noting that the women would always support him in his political endeavours.
“Your job will not be complete if efforts to provide jobs for the youth are not realised to make them self-reliant and reduce crime,” she said.
A widow and beneficiary of the gesture, Mrs Elem Uduma, urged other political office holders from the area to emulate Ikoro. (NAN)