Governor Otti Empowers 150 Graduates With One Million Naira Each

One hundred and fifty graduates of Ogbonnaya Ọnụ Polytechnic Aba (formerly Abia State Polytechnic Aba) on Tuesday received one million naira grant each, from the Abia State government to support their micro businesses.

Issuing the cheques at the Polytechnic Auditorium in Aba, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Christopher Kalu Okoro, on behalf of Governor Alex Otti said the essence of the grant is to make the beneficiaries better members of the society and to create employment.

The issuance of the cheques was preceded by entrepreneurship training, under the auspices of the Abia State Graduate Empowerment Programme.

The workshop brought resource persons from various successful entrepreneurs and other professionals who educated the beneficiaries and other participants on tips and methods to run a successful business.

In his remarks, Dr C.K Okoro charged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money, urging them to avoid the temptation of impulse spending.

“You have access to your money and then do whatever you want to do with your money in line with what you have also written to the government. This money is not for Brazilian hair, it’s not for bone stretch, it’s not for jackets. It is expected that this money will grow and make you a bigger person, so that tomorrow you can give back to society.”

According to Dr Okoro, the beneficiaries were selected from three different sets of graduates from the school, namely; 2021/202, 2022/2023 and 2023/2024, with each set producing fifty persons.

He went on to explain the criteria for qualification, stating that one must be a graduate of the Polytechnic within the time frame of between 2022 and 2024, you must have graduated with at least a CGP of 3.00, that is upper credits and you must have applied for a grant.

“For you to qualify for this grant first, you must have graduated from this polytechnic between 2022 and 2024, that is 22, 23 or 24, that is number one condition. Number two condition, you must have graduated with at least a GP of 3.00, that is upper credits. Number three, you must have applied for a grant. These are the preliminary qualifications to give you entrance into this particular room that is assessed by this grant. And then for you to collect it, one, you must have done your clearance. And two, you must have collected your certificate.”

He emphasized that the grants were not for political reasons but to empower persons in line with the vision of Governor Otti to create wealth and build a robust economy.

Responding, one of the beneficiaries, Nwachukwu Cyril Emmanuel who graduated in Business Administration and Management in 2022 appreciated Governor Otti for the gesture, saying the grant would go a long way in alleviating the bottle neck of accessing loans.

He said in the next few years he expects to have grown his poultry business in order to employ at least ten persons.

“I really want to appreciate His Excellency for this initiative. It will really really go a long way in fostering my business”, he said.

On his part, another recipient of the one million naira cheque, Joseph Sochukwuma Egwuatu, a graduate of Accounting said he would invest his money in his shoe and leather products business.

Egwuatu who could not hide his joy was full of praise for the Governor, Dr Alex Otti.

For Nduka Harmony, a graduate of Mass Communication, she already has a printing press where she intends to invest her money.

She promised to utilize the grant and use it to create awareness of what Governor Alex Otti is doing in the state.