C' River: Eteng Empowers 160 Women With N100,000 Business Support
By Judex OKORO
Sen. Eteng Williams (APC Cross River) has empowered no fewer than 160 women with N100,000 each, alongside business training aimed at strengthening their livelihoods.
The intervention was delivered through a two-day empowerment programme organised by the Federal College of Agriculture, Akure, in collaboration with Aqil Transnational Ltd.
At the programme, held simultaneously in Ikom Local Government Area and Ugep in Yakurr Local Government Area of the state, the beneficiaries were trained in modern business practices, practical skills and approaches to managing and expanding small-scale enterprises.
Certificates of participation were also presented to the women at the conclusion of the programme.
Mr Ikoi Uket, Liaison Officer of the senator who represented him at the occasion, said the initiative reflected the senator’s commitment to translating his representation into tangible benefits for constituents.
He said Williams had, over the past three years, combined his legislative responsibilities with interventions in human capital development and economic empowerment.
“Over the last three years, Senator Eteng Williams has dutifully delivered the dividends of democracy in several areas and on multiple fronts, not just in the primary mandate of law-making, but also in terms of life-changing empowerment and endowment,” he said.
He said investment in people and small businesses was critical to tackling poverty and unemployment in the district.
Uket urged the beneficiaries to use the support judiciously while calling for continued support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Reforms can be painful and difficult, but with patience, persistence, and hard work, the gains will definitely come in bounties,” he said.
He said this intervention adds to Williams’ previous empowerment efforts, including a poultry scheme through which women received training, birds, feeds, and financial assistance to establish or expand poultry businesses.
"The senator has consistently maintained that effective representation should go beyond physical infrastructure to include investment in people, stronger livelihoods, and opportunities for constituents to become economically self-reliant," he maintained.
Some beneficiaries, who spoke, described the programme as timely and impactful, thanking the senator for the intervention.
They urged other elected representatives to emulate the initiative by investing more in human capital development and supporting small businesses in their constituencies.
According to Abang Jonah, "this intervention is most welcome against the backdrop of the current economy reality and the need to be self reliant."
