The wife of Anambra State Governor, Nonye Soludo, has called on women of Dunukofia Local Government Area to make the most of the empowerment support extended to them, stressing that trust and accountability must guide their use of the resources.
Speaking at an empowerment event held at the council headquarters, Mrs. Soludo addressed 1,083 women who received support as petty traders, drawn from across the local government. The initiative was made possible through a collaboration between the local government authority and two prominent sons of the area—Prince Arthur Eze and Chief Jim Nwabueze.
Describing empowerment as a key tool in the fight against poverty and hunger, Mrs. Soludo said the beneficiaries were chosen based on their reputation for honesty and diligence. She encouraged other well-meaning individuals to invest in similar programmes that can trigger grassroots development and improve the state economy.
“It’s not about the quantity of what you are given,” she told the women. “It’s about what you do with it. Let the impact be visible in your homes, your businesses, and your communities.”
Mrs. Soludo also commended the council chairman, Hon. Chijioke Ozumba, for steering progressive initiatives and acknowledged the positive influence of his wife in building a supportive home environment.
Hon. Ozumba attributed the progress recorded in Dunukofia to the supportive policies of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration. He explained that the empowerment aligns with the state’s Public Private Community Partnership (PPCP) model, designed to foster inclusive development.
According to him, the council has already empowered 200 farmers with N50,000 each and provided them with organic seedlings and farming inputs. In the education sector, 860 students were registered for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination at no cost, with one scoring an impressive 354. The council also enrolled 1,000 indigent persons in the State Health Insurance Scheme (ASHIA) to ensure access to free medical care.
He added that the initial plan to empower 1,000 traders was further expanded with the support of Prince Eze, who contributed to 600 additional slots, and Chief Nwabueze, who funded 300 more, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 1,083.