Making Deltans Economically Buoyant According to constitutional scholars, the primary purpose of governance is the security and welfare of the people and the Nigerian constitution is very much aware of this reality. Thus government at the local, state and federal levels make conscious efforts to meet the security and welfare needs of the people, the owners of electoral sovereignty. Any government that cannot meet the welfare and security needs of the citizens is not qualified to wear the label of government. Here in Delta State, since the inception of the Uduaghan administration, its love and passions to minister to the social and economic needs of the people is simply legendary and it would be understatement to maintain that it is unequalled in the annals of the nation`s democratic system. Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan in taking the reins of governance proclaimed the three point agenda of peace and security, human capital development and infrastructural development. The human capital deve-lopment dovetailed into the micro credit programme that had won national and international laurels in its drive of poverty eradication and putting economic strings into the footsteps of Deltans. It could also be argued further that peace and security is part of the micro credit programme for the man who is hungry is likely to be a security risk to those around him and a threat to peace building efforts of the government and the community. Since 2007, the micro credit programme under the captainship of Dr Antonia Ashiedu had empowered more than 100,000 Deltans through the giving of credit facilities to all manner of Deltans. Thus within the week, the Micro Credit programme ship berthed in Eku, Ethiope East Local government area of the state. This time the initiator of the programme and the Delta State helmsman was on hand to extend the economic life line to Deltans. Speaking at the occasion, the state governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan said that the micro credit scheme was designed for Deltans to be economically buoyant and be employers of labour. He disclosed that the money given to the beneficiaries of the scheme were take-off capital which will yield profit if well managed. The occasion witnessed the presentation of certificates to 138 cluster groups. The governor advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the money and avoid the temptation of using the money to acquire luxury goods. This is how Emmanuel Uduaghan advised the beneficiaries on prudent management of the money:’ The money is a seed money that you must use to grow your business, it is not for you to buy cars and build houses as you will comfortably do that when your business is doing well. Youths should be hardworking and emulate those who have made it through genuine means, they should shun social vices and utilise empowerment programmes as we have… this is time to prepare genuinely for old age`. It would be a tragedy if those who have benefited from the micro credit programme to ignore the Solomon like wisdom of the state governor. What the governor is emphasising is that by getting the credit facilities, the artisans, petty traders, cottage business owners and those of allied fields would use the money to grow their businesses and remove more Deltans from the unemployment winter. Furthermore with prompt repayment of the credit facilities, other Deltans can also benefit from the scheme. This reporters investigation revealed that repayment rate is very high and that is what that has been keeping the scheme alive and thriving. On her part, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr Antonia Ashiedu thanked the governor for sustaining the programme which has empowered a lot of Deltans. Despite the initial hiccups, it is to the eternal credit of Ashiedu that the programme has grown from strength to strength and upgraded to a fully fledged ministry. This is how it should be and it is an added boost to the government policy and drive of Delta State Beyond Oil. The reality that is dawning on all Nigerians is that one day, the crude oil will drive up and the abundant gas reserves would simply varnish and when that happens, the nation must fall back to the pool of human resources. And it only takes the knack of a genius to discover and look into the future. This is the clearest meaning of the micro credit scheme. Today all parts of the state are benefitting from the good dividends of the micro credit programme and, thanks goodness, that the scheme has not been hijacked by the politicians. In one of my interviews with Dr Antonia Ashiedu, she maintained that the scheme had been so designed that it would be near impossible for politicians to hijack it. In other words, you do not need any political influence or godfather to access the loan. The programme does not discriminate against political persuasions and you must not be a card carrying member of PDP to benefit. This is one area the Uduaghan administration has demonstrated in unmistakable terms its burning desire to improve the living standard of the people. Those who benefit from the scheme in Eku and indeed in other parts of the state should see it as a commitment and take a bond of faith to make sure that the scheme not only make them economically buoyant, they should also use the golden opportunity to better the lives of people around them by employing them in their cottage industries. In that way, the peace and security, and human capital administration of the government will be given practical ventilation.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 07:59:52 +0000
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