By joshua 
By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
As efforts to elevate the poverty in the country the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC, On Friday gave out keke Napep to some youths in Edo South Senatorial District Of Edo State.
Majajor Gen. Charles Arhiavbere Rtd, Executive Director, in charge of Finance in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), said the NDDC decided to embark on the process, to empower youths from the Region in order to enable them to be self reliance in life.
Gen. Arhiavbere said,” I and the Managing Director of NDDC, were able to make sure that Edo state benefit from the Niger Delta Development Commission. Don’t forget that the NDDC is an interventionist agency. For the youths and for poverty reduction, constructions and for Infrastructural transformation amomg the Niger Delta Region.
He stated that , an economic empowerment will bring back the capacity to drive away poverty. And to also ensure we reach the youths at the grassroot levels. In the preparation of reaching the youths at the grassroot levels. This is not the only programme we have, we intend to engage the youths at the sports levels.
Adding that, Very soon they will be introducing the ‘ Sports Festival,’ that would engage the most of the youths, and bring scouts from all over the world to the Niger Delta Region to ensure that our youths can excel in international markets. We also intend to do something for the men and women from the Niger Delta Region, and many other things we are planning to do,” Gen. Charles added.
He said the method of selecting beneficiaries from the various local government areas in Edo state, was hinged on the seven local government areas in Edo South majorly, But, we also make sure people benefits from Edo North and Edo Central.
According to him, ” The leaders from those local government areas that benefited from the empowerment programme majorly identified the problems of poverty in their various domains. The leaders from the two Senatorial districts, Edo North and Edo Central are here today to identify with their people, so that the empowerment can get to the rural areas. I am happy at the conduct today. We will do more as we settle down in the Region.
He further added that, NDDC is an interventionist agency that predicated on that position. This KeKe-NAPEP was given out by the Federal government in collaboration with the Ministry of Niger Delta.
The Federal Government ” Presented them to the Ministry of Niger Delta who in turn gave it to the NDDC. And the NDDC had given it out directly to intervene on the lives of the recipients in the Region.
The reciptients are citizens of the Niger Delta Region. We have 14 benefactors with 100,000 naira each for the recipients for their head start to buy fuel and recharge the battery to drive the KeKe-NAPEP to their locations.”
In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, Major Gen. Celcil Esekhaigbe (Rtd) appealed to the beneficiaries to make proper use of the Keke-NAPEP, so that they will be able to feed themselves and their families.
Maj. Gen. Esekhaigbe also advised the benefactors not to sell the the KeKe-NAPEP, but make good use of it. He therefore thanked the federal government, the Ministry of Niger Delta and the NDDC for making the event a reality, and for reducing the rate of poverty from the Region.
In their joyous mood, some of the benefactors who spoke after receiving their KeKe-NAPEP, and funds are; Mr. Etinosa Erhunwmunse from Oredo ward 7, Mr. Festus Ese Omoruyi, the Publicity Secretary in Orhionmwon local government area, thanked the federal government, the Ministry of the Niger Delta, and the Niger Delta Development Commission for empowering them.
They stated that they will make good and proper use of the items given to them, and commended all those that ensure the programme comes to actuality.