One hundred petty traders and market women in Afiaeze (Obi’s Market) in Aboh, Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State have been empowered by His Imperial Majesty , Obi of Aboh, Dr Gregory Nnamdi Oputa 111 in collaboration with Chybee Foundation.
The empowerment, which is in different categories entailed presentation of cash to beneficiaries based on their business venture.
The beneficiaries include beans cake sellers (Akara sellers), second hand clothes sellers, foodstuff sellers, petty traders and meat sellers as well as other low income earners.
Presenting the cash gifts to the market women in the various categories, the Obi of Aboh, His Imperial Majesty, Dr Gregory Nnamdi Oputa 111 said the gesture was meant to lift the beneficiaries out of poverty, adding that the empowerment was a way of giving back to the society.
“I want to say that the empowerment is to encourage the women towards improving their economic activities which will in turn impact their families and by extension, the entire community’’.
While expressing optimism that the empowerment would have enduring positive spiral effect on the local economy, the traditional ruler advised the beneficiaries to use the financial support judiciously by applying the funds directly in improving their different business engagements.
“Let me appeal to you market women to be more serious with your business and I want to assure you all that by the end of this year, a larger number of the people will be empowered “.
The Aboh monarch said efforts were in top gear to extend similar gesture to other petty traders and market women in the kingdom and urged them to be hopeful of better days ahead.
“A man may have one million naira today, tomorrow he is broke but when women say they are broke , there is reserve somewhere . And when you give them N100, 000 they will increase it to one million naira and that is the reality of life”.
In her remarks, the founder of Chybee Foundation, Lady Zimako said the collaboration with the Greg Oputa Foundation was to add more value to the empowerment and commended the Aboh monarch for his interest and commitment towards the economic wellbeing of his subjects through poverty alleviation initiatives .
Lady Zimako, who handed the empowerment to the beneficiaries in the market, challenged them to justify the king’s kind gesture by supporting their families and enhancing the economic growth of the kingdom.
Some of the beneficiaries, Mrs Catherine Ozegbe, a plastics seller and Mrs Grace Onuorah, a clothes seller expressed gratitude to the Monarch and Lady Zinmako for their financial empowerment and promised to utilize the support judiciously.
They prayed for the monarch and asked for God’s continued blessing and wisdom in overseeing the affairs of his people.
The 100 beneficiaries are drawn from the different quarters that make up the kingdom.
The ceremony was witnessed by Members of the Obi – in – Council, chiefs and a cross section of personalities in Aboh Kingdom.
