By Magnus Aluma
The Enugu State Government through the Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Eradication, said it has spent over one hundred million naira to procure a total of 520 grinding machines, for distribution to the vulnerable and poor citizens of the state.
The state’s Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication, Professor Benedette Okoli, stated this on Tuesday, during the flag off of the distribution of the grinding machines, held at the Old Government Lodge in Enugu.
She said the flag off was significant as the Enugu State Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Eradication joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Poor, and thanked the state government for approving the intervention programme.
Professor Okoli said, “this intervention is being carried out in commemoration of the 2026 International Day of The Poor and is made possible with the kind approval of His Excellency, Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
“Your Excellency, on behalf of the Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Eradication, and the good citizens of Enugu State, I most sincerely thank you for approving this life changing programme.
“Your commitment to the welfare of the poor and vulnerable, has continued to give hope to many families across Enugu State.”
The Commissioner said the grinding machines represent an opportunity for the beneficiaries to engage themselves in meaningful and productive economic activities.
“The machines we are flagging off today are not just pieces of equipment.They are tools of economic empower ment. So, the beneficiaries should be able to use them to generate income, support their families and gradually move out of the cycle of poverty, in line with the transparency and people centered philosophy of this administration.
Okoli explained that beneficiaries of the intervention programme, were carefully chosen selection process, devoid of bias, favoritism or political consideration, adding that each beneficiary was a genuine member of a poor and vulnerable household, as captured in the social register of the state government.
She further said, “this is Enugu State we are building under Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, a state where government intervention programmes are guided by data, fairness, equity, justice, and not by power indices or personal connections.
“So, my dear beneficiaries, today marks a new chapter in your lives. These grinding machines are being placed in your hands as a seed of hope. I urge you all to use these machines productively, take care of them and turn them into instruments of economic power and ensure that this intervention yields lasting results.”
In their separate remarks the Enugu State Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Barrister Robert Ozongwu, and his counterpart from the state Ministry of Information, Dame Ugochi Madueke, said the intervention was timely, coming when the people are facing abject poverty.
They urged the beneficiaries to use the equipment productively, adding that the state government still have a lot of intervention programmes, aimed at turning around the economic fortunes of the citizens of the state. Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to our correspondent shortly after the event, thanked the state government for considering them worthy of benefiting from the intervention programme.
They pledged to use the opportunity of the intervention programme, to raise their economic status, improve the wellbeing of their families, and contribute to the economic growth of Enugu State.
Our correspondent reports that the flag off ceremony was witnessed by some top government functionaries, representatives of the traditional institution, APC women groups, community leaders, and representatives of various town unions from across the 17 local government areas of the state.
