As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, initiative, the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, has empowered over 200 people with vocational and life skills in Umuoziri Inyisi, Ikeduru local government area of Imo State.
Speaking at the presentation of items, the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman expressed the institution’s “unwavering commitment to positively impact lives and give back to society”.
Ms Bala-Usman, who was represented by a principal Manager, Corporate/Strategic Communication in the agency, Ikechukwu Onyemekara, said the empowerment were in line with President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s efforts towards reducing the number of people live in abject poverty in our country.
“I am hopeful that these items, which include electrical grinding machines, sewing machines, and hand grinding machines will go a long way in putting food on the table for people in the community.
“We also hope that once beneficiaries get to work with these items, they would be able to take care of the basic needs of life that were hitherto problematic,” Ms Bala-Usman stated.
She noted that the NPA was particularly interested in the empowerment of women and the youth, giving their importance in the area of upbringing of the children and the maintenance of families.
For the youth, according to her, it is important that they have some work at hand at every material time so that they will not be tempted to engage in anti-social activities.
“The Authority had taken particular note of people with skills and those without skills.
This is why we have Sewing machines, which will be distributed to people who have learned the trade. The grinding machines are meant for women and youths who have not acquired these skills,” she said.
In his reaction, the traditional ruler of Inyisi Autonomous Community, Eze Andrew Osuji applauded NPA for initiating such a laudable programme to benefit the youths of the community.
The visibly excited monarch also urged the beneficiaries to make appropriate use of the items.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President-General of the community, Ass. Prof. Richard C. Ihejirika thanked Ms Bala-Usman for this wonderful gesture to the people of his community.
According to him, “from all indications, it is like God visited the community in the likeness of men to liberate the people of community from poverty and destitution.”
“The men that epitomize God in this context are no other persons than the managing director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman and her team,” he emphasized.
