NPA, lawmaker give 900 youths, women start-up capital

The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) in partnership with the member representing Nsukka/Igboeze South federal constituency, Hon. Pat Asadu have given about 900 youths and women from the area who were recently trained in various entrepreneurship skills start-up capital to set up choice businesses.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mrs. Hadiza Usman said during the two day skill and entrepreneurial training that the programme was part of NPA’s corporate social responsibility, she added that, “the non refundable start-up capital would enable beneficiaries invest in various businesses without delay.

“The empowerment is meant to assist the youths so that they will have something to earn a living as well as assist their siblings and parents.

“If youths are engaged in business activities, crime rate will reduce drastically.

“NPA has carried out same empowerments in some other parts of the country as a way of reducing unemployment as well as helping youths and women acquire skills”.

Usman who was represented by Mr. Sam Nwachukwu from Public Affairs Department of NPA, said the authority would monitor the beneficiaries to know how the money was invested.

“This starting capital is given to beneficiaries to enable us know those who are serious to start business as well as know those who will eat their own.

“This money given to them is not refundable as is not loan but a grant to help them start business.

“I advise them to make judicious use of the money to enable the Authority to give more money to increase their business base,” she said.

The MD commended Hon. Pat Asadu, the house committee chairman on Ports, Harbour and Waterways for facilitating the programme.

In a remark Asadu thanked NPA for empowering youths in his constituency as well as providing solar street light panels in wards within his constituency.

The lawmaker urged youths in the area to make good use of the opportunity as some of them might become successful business men and women in future through the empowerment.

“Some successful business men and women in the world started like this, your determination and hardwork will make you successful and celebrated tomorrow.

“The empowerment which I attracted courtesy of NPA will help youths faced with unemployment and non white collar job be self sufficient”, he said.

Asadu added that beneficiaries were drawn from 36 wards that made up the two council areas of his constituency.

“The youths are selected from all wards in Nsukka/Igboeze-South federal constituency.

“Youths who did not benefit from this NPA empowerment will benefit in less than one month when I will do my constituency empowerment,” he said.

In an interview, Dr. Edward Isiwu a consultant to NPA said the empowerment training programme was the seventh edition the lawmaker has facilitated for the unemployed in the constituency.