TQM Report,
Wife of the Governor of Anambra State and founder of the charity organization, Caring Family Enhancement Initiative, CAFE, Dr. Ebelechukwu Obiano has empowered three hundred persons trained by CAFE, under different skill-based vocations.
The three hundred persons, mostly indigent women, widows, youths and the persons with Disabilities, had undergone a 5-week intensive training at the Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurship Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka.The training began in 2020 with the empowerment already scheduled to follow up but both fixtures were temporarily suspended because of the deadly incursion of COVID-19.
The three hundred persons, who were trained on hairdressing and beauty therapy, bead making, soap making, bakery and confectionery, tailoring and fashion design, information and communication technology, among others went home with start-up tools and capital for each of their designated skill areas and cash to ferry their equipment home.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Dr. Mrs. Obiano said despite the current economic downturn, which has made both straining and empowerment costlier, her NGO would never leave out the basic aspect of the programme, which according to her, is to give the beneficiaries a practical starting point.She praised the graduands for successfully completing their, to go out to the business world and make maximum economic impact for themselves and for the society and also commended the managers of Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies for their support in making the programme richer.
In her speech, the commissioner for Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue, said that the governor’s wife has exhibited a lifetime charity example even at a time her husband’s administration is winding down
For CAFE Programme Manager and Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Willie Obiano, Mr. Emeka Ozumba, Dr. Mrs. Obiano’s penchant for benevolence is a show of passion, noting that despite the challenges of COVID-19, she remained insistent on keeping what has become a record schedule.
The Deputy Director, Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneurial Studies, Professor Ngozi Ijeomah, in her remarks, noted that the biggest life’s investment is equipping humanity to cater for itself independently, a vision that the governor’s wife has lived, and urged the beneficiaries to tap into the vast entrepreneurial opportunities in the society.
Dignitaries, who addressed the graduating students including the state Commissioner for Youth Empowerment and Creative Economy, Professor Theresa Obiekezie, the Special Adviser to Governor Obiano on Indigenous Medicine and Herbal Practice, Dr. Onyeka Ibezi, Igwe Rowland Odegbo of Nteje, that of Aguleri, Igwe Michael Idigo, urged the beneficiaries to see the gesture as a socio-economic liberation with expectation that they would use their experience to trigger financial independence ripple effect.Some of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Gladys Anero-Jideani and Miss Nnadozie Genevieve both from Anambra East Local Government Area, Comrade Ifeyinwa Ilonanya from Awka South, Chibuzor Onyeka, and Mrs. Eunice Anumba the overall best graduating student, said special prayers for the governor’s wife and promised to capitalize on the opportunity availed to them to develop themselves and add value to the society.Members of the state executive council, transition committee chairmen and other top government functionaries, were also in attendance.The current beneficiaries, the twelfth batch, bring the number of persons trained and empowered so far by CAFE since it became a registered charity body in August, 2014 to five thousand five hundred.
