.. Trains over 60 Eziowelle youths on Bio-Gas
By Uzo Ugwunze
It was jubilation as over 400 constituents were empowered by House of Representatives member for Idemili North and South, Hon Uche Harris Okonkwo.
The empowerment which included a training programme for about 150 youths on Bio Gas for domestic utilization and other modern technologies was attracted by Hon Uche Harris Okonkwo has ended.
The trainings held simultaneously at Eziowelle and Nnokwa communities of Idemili North and South LGAs anchored in collaboration with National Biotechnology Development Agency, Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology was aimed at constituents acquiring skills in Bio-Gas for domestic utilization, among other viable areas of technology.
At Eziowelle Civic Center, a consultant, Mr Dike Ugboaja and his team were the resource persons that trained about 60 constituents, saying that they were ready to assist the certificated youths subsequently anytime there was need for installations until they become experts.
Speaking during the event, SSA to Hon. Uche Okonkwo, Hon Chibuikem Okoye who was present to see to the success of the programme said that youths of Idemili North and South were unanimous in their praise of the lawmaker who they described as a forward thinking representative.
He said that Hon Okonkwo did not only saw the need for them to learn the largely untapped field which could fetch serious minded youths up to #300,000 daily but also that Hon. Okonkwo ensured that the right tools and resources were made available to give them a headstart.
“In these three days we bought unity and love amongst the communities in the constituency. Uche Okonkwo also empowered about 250 constituents with cash, Point of Sale (POS) machines, sewing and grinding machines, among others at Nnobi.
He gave the assurance that government would always discover the wishes of the masses at the grassroots and provide in those lines in order to build a sustainable relationship and development.
The training, according to Okoye, had been an intensive training that saw world class facilitators taking participants on the rudiments of installation and production of Bio gas for domestic utilization.
“At least people can feed themselves and their families with this knowledge. Feces from cows, goats, chickens and house hold wastes can be converted into electric energy or cooking gas for at least domestic use to save cost of living”, said Okoye.
The Labour party Chairman Eziowelle, Engr. Nonso Ozoemena said “Ochilima ga Achi-ozo” (one who provides quality representation should be allowed for another tenure).
He said Hon Okonkwo had continued to set the pace for human capital development.
He noted that with the way over 400 smiling faces benefited from empowerment and those who underwent the training at Eziowelle and Nnokwa including the empowerment which took place at Nnobi that there is no doubt Hon Uche Harris Okonkwo’s one year and six months in office had been an outstanding.
In their seperate speeches, the duo of, Igwe Michael Okonkwo Etusi of Eziowelle represented by the Palace Secretary, High Chief Dr Jerry Anyaegbu and the Eziowelle President General, Dr Julian Obiora after commending Hon Okonkwo for the initiative which he said had both immediate and future benefits for Eziowelle community encouraged the beneficiaries not to take the training for granted because it came free of charge to them but should be focused until they become mentors to train others.
Expressing satisfaction with the training, the beneficiaries who variously smiled home with the sum of N50,000 and N100,000 each, said, it was important that the virtues of Hon Okonkwo who attracted and sponsored the programme should be celebrated.
In her own speech, Mrs Ogochukwu Omaliko from ward 2, Abatete prayed God to keep Hon Okonkwo to continue in his philanthropy, adding that she had earlier benefited from the programmes and empowerment from the House member.
Another beneficiary, Mr Emmanuel Nwabueze from Eziowelle ward thanked the House Member for his love for his constituents and urged him not to relent in his provision of dividends of democracy to his constituents, saying that he was eager to apply the Biogas knowledge acquired from the training even if it is at domestic level in order to save cost of living or buying petrol for generator or cooking gas.
Highlight on the occasion was presentation of certificates to the, 60 trainees.
