By Tony Adibe
The member representing Ezinihitte and Ahiazu Mbaise federal constituency in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu has said that the empowerment benefits distributed to his constituents on Thursday had nothing to do with the 2027 general elections.
Although some politicians have begun moves to woo voters for the next polls come in 2027, Hon. Chinedu rather explained that the over N20 million empowerment programs organised for the people of Oboama/Umunama ward within the Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State were in fulfilment of his campaign promises to tackle youth unemployment and lessen poverty among people in the areas.
“This Oboama/Umunama phase is valued at over N20 million, excluding food items,” said the Lawmaker, who also explained the main objective behind the program. The empowerment aims to provide constituents with practical tools, start-up capital, and resources to enable sustainable businesses, improve livelihoods, and reduce poverty across Ahiazu Mbaise/Ezinihitte Federal Constituency,” said Hon. Chinedu in reaction to enquiries from the NewsBitsng.com.
The Lawmaker said that he has been implementing empowerment programs since his first term in office, consistently delivering both financial and material support to a good number of his constituents in Ahiazu Mbaise and Ezinihitte. He stressed that ever since he began the empowerment program, it has been done on merit, fair play, and equity, hence there is no room for favouritism.
Piles of bags of rice, garri and other food stuff for distribution to the people
Our Reporter learnt that thousands of constituents from Oboama and Umunama ward gathered on Thursday at the Central School, Oboama field, where they received the kind gesture of their representative in the green chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly. Chinedu spoke on the items and grants provided for the beneficiaries and the reason for the choice of such items/tools with which they would begin small-scale businesses.
“Each beneficiary received a table, chair, umbrella, POS machine, and N200,000 cash grant. Additionally, food items such as rice, garri, salt, and spaghetti were shared without a raffle draw,” said the Lawmaker, who added: “The items were selected to enable immediate income generation, particularly in small-scale retail and POS transactions, which are accessible and profitable ventures for many in the community.”
Chinedu, who equally spoke on the quantity of the empowerment package and also reflected on the previous empowerment programs he organised. “Above 100 beneficiaries in Oboama/Umunama received the empowerment package,” he said, recalling that, “in previous empowerment phases, motorcycles, vehicles, grinding machines, sewing machines, and household appliances were distributed to hundreds of other beneficiaries.”
A lucky female beneficiary receiving the items she won
He explained the method of selecting the beneficiaries, saying it was fair, transparent, and unambiguous. “A transparent raffle draw conducted by the lawmaker in collaboration with the Moniepoint team ensured fairness, equity, and elimination of bias,” chipped in Mr. Nnamdi Ukasanya, the Special Advicer to the Lawmaker on Media and Publicity.
Ukasanya also said that other similar empowerment programs will be carried out in other wards within the constituency, with life-transforming projects executed in all 24 wards. More than 100 direct beneficiaries for this phase in Oboama/Umunama ward, while other members of the communities got essential food items such as rice, garri, salt and spaghetti, according to the Special Advicer.
He said the Lawmaker has identified key challenges in Oboama na Umunama beyond empowerment, to include infrastructural deficits, youth unemployment, and the need for improved healthcare and education facilities.
According to Ukasanya, “Hon. Chinedu remains committed to breaking partisan boundaries, expanding opportunities for all, and ensuring every ward benefits from his active representation.”
NewsBits learnt that feedback from community interactions indicated a strong demand for business tools, financial support, and food relief. Also, it was gathered that the atmosphere at the venue of the event was quite electrified with excitement from the huge crowd. “The atmosphere was electrified as beneficiaries danced, sang, and prayed for the lawmaker, describing the gesture as “a lifeline” and “an answer to long-standing prayers,” said Ukasanya.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Anyanwu Agatha Chinagorom , who won a POS, machine, N200,000 grant, a table and an umbrella said: ” I’m very grateful to the Rt. Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu for remembering his constituents today. My prayer is for God Almighty to continue to guide and guard him; enrich him with wisdom, kindness, boldness, good health and long life so that he will continue to do good to humanity.”
Another beneficiary, Chidiebere Ukaegbu, a trader said that he would add the empowerment package he received to his small scale business to make it grow bigger. “I pray God to bless our Lawmaker with good health and long life. I’m very happy today,” he said.
