The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA ) has donated good and items to over 200 people at Umuoziri Inyisi, Ikeduru LGA of Imo State as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative.
NPA explained that the initiative is geared towards equipping Nigerian youths in the communities, with vocational and life skills that create wealth and support livelihood.
Speaking at the presentation of the items to the people of Umuoziri Inyisi, the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman who was represented by a principal Manager, Corporate/Strategic Communication in the Organisation, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara expressed the institution’s unwavering commitment to positively impact lives and give back to society.
According to Hadiza Bala Usman, ‘’ the Nigerian Ports Authority is the regulatory body for all the ports in Nigeria and as a federal government agency, the Authority is deliberate about contributing to the efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to drastically reduce the number of people who live in abject poverty in our country. The presentation we are having is in furtherance of this determination. ‘’
‘’ I am hopeful that these items, which include electrical grinding machines, sewing machines, and hand grinding machines will go a long way in putting food on the table for people in the community. We also hope that once beneficiaries get to work with these items, they would be able to take care of the basic needs of life that were hitherto problematic.’’ She stated
She noted that Nigerian Ports Authority is particularly interested in the empowerment of women and the youth giving the importance of the assistance that they can give to our fathers in the upbringing of children and the maintenance of our families while in the case of the youth, it is important that they have some work at hand at every material time so that they will not be tempted to engage in anti-social activities.
Concerning the items being presented; she said ‘’the Authority had taken particular note of people with skills and those without skills. This is why we have Sewing machines, which will be distributed to people who have learned the trade. The grinding machines are meant for women and youths who have not acquired these skills.’’
She congratulated the beneficiaries, and commend them to make judicious use of the items because ‘We have had instances of people who sell the items given to them immediately after handover, I want to appeal that you do not do this. On the contrary, please hold on to your items and make the best use of them to assist in keeping your families and community together.
The traditional ruler of Inyisi Autonomous Community, Eze Andrew Osuji applauded NPA for initiating such a laudable programme to benefit the youths of the community.
A statement explained that the monarch also urged the beneficiaries to make appropriate use of the items
Earlier in his welcome address, the president-general of the community, Ass. Prof. Richard C. Ihejirika thanked the Managing Director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman, for this wonderful gesture to the people of his community.
According to him “from all indications, it is like God visited the community in the likeness of men to liberate the people of community from poverty and destitution”
He said, “the men that epitomize God in this context are no other persons than the managing director of the NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman and her team”.
According to him, it is obvious that Ms. Hadiza Bala Usman may have heard of Umuoziri community as to know the social and economic status of the community.
The president-general further said that the community leadership had never known Hadiza Bala Usman before now and there is no way the community would have dreamt of what she can do especially with regards to empowering the youths and the less privileged persons in the community.
According to him, “the leadership and people of the community expresses their profound gratitude to President Mohammadu Buhari and Ms, Hadiza Bala Usman for their uncommon gesture”.
He also added, “Ms. Usman, Ma, on behalf of the Umuoziri community. I wish to pledge our unalloyed support for your office, the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
