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The Coordinator of Ezza North Development Centre in Ebonyi State, Hon. Barr. Samuel Igboke, has empowered members of his administration, community security officials and law students with motorcycles and bursary awards as part of efforts to deepen grassroots development.
The empowerment programme, held at Evara, the headquarters of the development centre, coincided with the accountability tour of the centre by the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Uchenna Igwe.
Also on the tour were the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Francis Nwifuru on Documentation, Dr. Boniface Nwankwo, and directors from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
A total of 15 motorcycles were distributed to eight members of the Management Committee, two selected aides, and five Chief Security Officers (CSOs) drawn from communities within the development centre.
In addition, law graduates from Ezza North admitted into the Nigerian Law School received bursary awards of ₦300,000 each to support the completion of their professional legal training.
Speaking during the event, Igboke said the initiative was aimed at complementing the development agenda of Governor Francis Nwifuru by bringing the dividends of democracy closer to the grassroots.
He thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged to continue implementing people-oriented projects that would improve the welfare of residents across the development centre.
According to him, the motorcycles presented to members of the Management Committee were in recognition of their commitment and support to his administration, while those allocated to the Chief Security Officers were intended to strengthen community policing and enhance security across the five communities in the development centre.
He explained that the bursary awards were designed to ease the financial burden on beneficiaries as they undergo professional training at the Nigerian Law School.
The coordinator also highlighted projects executed by his administration, including the donation of electricity transformers, payment of bursaries to undergraduate students, grading of roads, construction of bridges and culverts, sinking of boreholes, and support for vulnerable members of the communities.
He assured residents that his administration would continue to execute projects that promote sustainable development and improve living standards in Ezza North Development Centre.
During the accountability tour, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters inspected ongoing projects across the area.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Documentation, Dr. Boniface Nwankwo, commended Igboke for translating the ideals of the People’s Charter of Needs into tangible grassroots interventions.
Nwankwo, who witnessed the presentation of the motorcycles and bursary awards during the inspection, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to make effective use of the support.
The event was attended by stakeholders of the development centre, including Geoffrey Ozor Chukwu (GOC), Prof. Humphrey Nwobashi, Joseph Enyiukpor, Dr. Jeff Ogbu, Emeka Nwonu and Polycarp Alegu.
They praised the coordinator, describing the empowerment programme as a demonstration of Governor Nwifuru’s commitment to grassroots development.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Okechukwu Ogbu thanked Governor Nwifuru for appointing Igboke as coordinator and expressed appreciation for the empowerment initiative.
He pledged that the beneficiaries would make judicious use of the motorcycles and bursary awards to enhance service delivery and contribute to the development of their communities.
