By: Amb. Anthony Akalugo
IZUNASO EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM GATHERS MOMENTUM, TRAINS 110 CONSTITUENTS ON MODERN CASSAVA PROCESSING TECHNIQUES, DISTRIBUTES SELF-POWERED GRINDING MACHINES WITH CASH COMPONENT, INAUGURATES 200 BENEFICIARIES FOR TERTIARY INSTITUTION SCHOLARSHIP THROUGH IJMB ADMISSION, GUARANTEES FULL AND TOTAL DURATION SCHOLARSHIP
A man’s ability to deliver is contingent upon his LID-factor, as propounded by John .C. Maxwell, the father of 21 irrefutable laws of leadership.
A man whose LID factor is supremely rated, whose kernel of capacity is benchmarked on best practices, propelled by erudition and unrepentant knack for knowledge and excellence, will also prefer the enduring path that provides results instead of brandishing a fluke in the name of providing momentary reprieve while poverty becomes endemic.
Sen. Osita Izunaso believes that people deserve to be empowered instead of being given handouts. His understanding of empowerment ranks in two folds, Technical Empowerment and Mental Empowerment.
In Technical Empowerment, Sen. Izunaso realises that we are endowed with a population of able bodied young men and women who are energetic, vibrant, hungry for success but whose drawback is lack of sponsorship to acquire skills and to be established in their line of trade.
This technical class consists of not-too educated and also educated, and graduates who feel like engaging in entrepreneurship but hampered by lack of opportunities and resources. It also encompasses working class who seek diversification.
The current state of the economy demands diversification and capacity development in multiple fronts in order to survive the harsh times. It therefore means that there is a huge pool of people within this class who indeed need to be led into the fishing scheme through a procedural approach.
To this set of people, Izunaso has begun their settlement with exposure to cassava modern processing techniques, distribution of grinding machines and a cash of One Hundred thousand naira (N100,000.00) only, presented to each of the 110 beneficiaries.
This according to the people’s senator, is the first phase out of many that are to come. He affirmed that in exactly two weeks’ time, there shall be another training and empowerment in the aspect of fisheries meant for another set of recipients across the 12 LGAs of Imo West Senatorial District. But Senator Izunaso urged the participants to form cooperative societies within the special segment of processing value chain.
Realising that the people were trained in many sectors of cassava processing value chain, such as starch production, commercial and industrial starch, ethanol production, garri production and so on, he urged them to operate cooperative societies focusing on their special area of interest, through which they will access loans through financial institutions.
He assured that Kpakpando Foundation, in collaboration with Credit Sure Microfinance Bank is ready to guarantee loans application for cooperative societies formed under this scheme.
Izunaso stated that his technical team will conduct performance evaluation on their performance periodically in order to determine their performance profile and activate further support to them.
The second empowerment stream is the mental empowerment, which is considered as the most enduring and impactful. Dist. Senator Izunaso reminded the prospects that it is only through quality education that a people can evolve. The aspirations to become senator, governor, minister, President, ambassador, etc., Starts with quality education.
Earlier on, Sen. Osita Izunaso was at Concord Hotel, Owerri, the venue for scholarship program for prospective tertiary institution students. The scholarship program was structured by Independent Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) in collaboration with Kpakpando Foundation, with the strategy to accredit people on their choice courses for immediate enrollment.
The prospects will be enrolled in the academic program located in Ebonyi and Cross River States institutions and after the first year, will proceed on direct entry admission to the affiliate universities starting at second year. They are not expected to go through UTME.
Izunaso granted approval and released admission letters to 200 beneficiaries selected from across the 12 LGAs and assured them that their sponsorship is Full, and for the entire duration of their program.
For instance, for medicine and surgery that lasts for six years, the sponsorship covers for six years, and for law that lasts for four years, they receive sponsorship for four years, and so on. Others include Engineering, pharmacy, and all courses accredited.
Barr. Osita Izunaso, a legal luminary, a media titan, and an astute administrator is leaving no stone unturned to fundamentally transform Imo West senatorial district with well-structured empowerment and intervention program.
He assures that he will soon be conducting constituency briefing to present his scorecard of performance so far. His promises made during his campaign are gradually being executed, Dist. Sen. Izunaso is the right man in the red Chambers.
He recently won the best senator award organised by Champion Newspaper, a national tabloid with integrity and panache.
Izunaso reminded all that the project of state creation of Orlu State has garnered momentum and they are doing everything necessary to see it pulled through.
According to the first-class law graduate and ranking senator, the political balancing stipulated in the constitution necessitates the creation of additional state and it is Imo state, the ancient creation that deserves to form the epicentre, from where it shall be carved out, stating that Orlu, the largest senatorial district in Nigeria, with 12 LGAs is more than some existing states in the country, and has enormous resources to stand as a state. The people are happy because Sen. Izunaso is performing.
© Amb. Anthony Akalugo
Acdore Media, 2024
