Rivers
Andoni LG Boss Empowers PWDs With POS Business
In a bid to reduce the rising unemployment and economic hardship among the community of persons living with disabilities in Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, the Council Chairman, Barrister Erastus Awortu, has empowered over 50 physically challenged persons with Point of Sale (POS) business.
The persons living with disabilities, drawn from different Wards of the local government, received N100,000 each as start up capital and POS machines at the end of their three-day training as Certified Mobile Money Agents by the council boss.
Addressing the beneficiaries at the end of the training in Ngo, the council chairman said the initiative is a deliberate livelihood programme of his administration aimed at reducing the rate of unemployment in the area “by boosting household economy, promoting financial inclusion of persons with disabilities and making them self-reliant”.
He explained that the start-up capital given to them are grants and not loan to enable them achieve financial freedom for themselves and their households.
Awortu urged the beneficiaries to use the money for what it was meant for and avoid the pitfall of spending it on frivolities or using it to attend to their personal or family problems.
The council chairman also asserted that the POS business would have widespread multiplier effects on the households and communities of the beneficiaries.
The Leader of the 9th Legislative Assembly of Andoni Local Government, Rt. Hon. Sheila Jacob Nte, who presented the start-up capital and POS kits to the beneficiaries, lauded the council boss “for being so sensitive, responsive and compassionate to the plight of the people of Andoni, including people living with disabilities”.
She urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the opportunity given to them by the council boss to liberate themselves and their households from economic challenges.
Some of the beneficiaries who responded on behalf of others expressed gratitude for the kind gesture by the council chairman.
They thanked the council chairman for bringing succour to the community of persons with disabilities in Andoni.
One of the beneficiaries, Oke Dominic from Ward 1, said the gesture would go a long way in alleviating poverty and hunger in his household.
Another beneficiary, Awajioniro Eddie Nte of Ward 6, described the gesture as a big relief to him and his household.
Councillors representing the 11 Wards in the 9th Legislative Assembly also graced the grand finale of the training and economic empowerment programme for the persons living with disabilities.
By: Theresa Fredrick & Charity Amiso