SOME 850 unemployed persons from Abia State have been empowered to go into productive ventures by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu. This comes as the Minister has awarded scholarships to another 75 students from tertiary institutions across the country. The value of the on going scholarship scheme that was commenced in 2011 ranges from N50, 000 and N500, 000 per beneficiary depending on the involvement and duration of their course of study. At a ceremony where cheques of various sums were handed over to some of the beneficiaries in Aba recently, the Minister urged them to justify their selection for the largess by working hard to make quality degree grades saying that under his empowerment scheme. At the ceremony, three youth organizations from his Ngwa Kinsmen namely: Abiazurumee Grassroots Development Initiative led by Okey Nwachukwu, Ngwa Ambassadors Association led by Major Ehiogu and Aba Ngwa Political Consultative Forum led by Chima Mbama announced their support for the endorsement of President Goodluck Jonathan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as it sole Presidential candidate for the 2015 election. The trio also commended governor Theodore Orji for supporting the PDP zoning the governor slot to the south zone, which is the zone the Minister hails from, also urged Orji to contest the Abia Central senatorial seat. They later handed over to the Minister their separate written resolutions, which called on the Minister to join the governorship race. “We commend you for the exemplary way you have been piloting the affairs of the Labour and Productivity Ministry. We call on you to run for the Abia State gubernatorial race come 2015. This is in view of the fact that you are well qualified and that so far, there is yet no aspirant from Aba North or Abia South LGA origin in the race. You are the most easily sellable candidate.” Responding, the Minister who commended them for supporting President Jonathan saying the re- election of President Jonathan would ensure the continuity of key appointments and projects which he listed as including the Enugu International airport, Onitsha seaports development, second Niger Bridge, expressways, among others that will come to the zone. On the call on him to join the governorship race he recalled that he has been in politics since 1989 during which he has held elected and appointed public offices noting that governor Orji has continued to give him support. He said: “I accept your clarion call to serve Abia State and I owe you an answer at the appropriate time which will be soon. I am qualified to serve in the position you called me to. I am still in service and will continue to obey and abide by the PDP rules and directive.”
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 21:37:07 +0000
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