As part of strategy for medium to long term sustainable interventions in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Onitsha, the traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, has announced the introduction of an economic empowerment programme.
Igwe Achebe stated this at the Second Onitsha COVID-19 Response Online Town Hall Meeting organized by the Onitsha Community COVID-19 Response Team (OCCRT) in Onitsha.
The Monarch stressed need to plan for how it would affect the town, pointing out that economic empowerment programme was designed to change the mindset of Onitsha people from a welfare mentality to a more productive, and entrepreneurial mindset.
He advised that the difficulties arising from the pandemic should be turned into an opportunity for lifting Onitsha out of poverty.’
He said it also aimed to foster the adoption and support of wealth creation, and long-term capital development initiatives across existing organs of the community, pointing out that Key aspects of the programme include Value Reorientation, Database Validation, Training and Development, Microfinance Bank, and MSME Funding.
Others are Cooperative Society, Business Incubation, Mentorship, and Women Empowerment.
The economic empowerment programme was conceptualised by a panel of Onitsha experts, who were charged by Igwe Achebe, to map out strategies to support the struggling and budding entrepreneurs in weathering the COVID-19 storm.
The town hall meeting drew 97 persons from eight countries, including various parts of Nigeria, Africa, Europe, and the United States of America. It builds on a 2017, project with the theme, “Take Onicha Ado N’Idu to the Next Level” which explored developmental and repositioning needs of the Onitsha community.
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