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Ebonyi govt to empower 95 FONEP trainees with N3m each
By Agbo Amauche, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi Government under the leadership of Chief Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru has approved the sum of three million naira each to the 95 batch A beneficiaries of Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Empowerement programme (FONEP) totaling 285, 000, 000 as a starter packs after their successful completion of two months intensive training on agricultural, processing and packaging organized by masters skill development farms in Enugu State so as to make them to be self reliant.
The State Commissioner for information and orientation Engr. Jude Okpor announced this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week executive council meeting in Abakaliki, the State capital.
The Commissioner who noted that the trainees were selected from the 13 Local Government Areas of the State, added that Exco resolved to monitor the beneficiaries to ensure the funds are judiciously utilized, saying that the council further approved the release of funds for the commencement of the training of batch B of the programme.
According to the commissioner “following the application made by the Honourable Commissioner for Transport and Special Projects for the procurement of more buses for easy movement/transportation of Ebonyi people within and outside the state, the Council approved the purchase of twenty (20) buses. This is also government’s premeditated step towards boosting the services of the state transport company, EBOTRANS”
“Pursuant to EXCO’s earlier approval for the reactivation of the Nkaliki Hatchery and in response to the progress report by the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources on purchase and installation of poultry cages, the Council further approved the raising of 15,000 chickens for the production of table eggs and raising of 20,400 broilers from day-old chicks. This is aimed at bringing to fruition the investment of the state in the hatchery and as part of government’s effort to revitalize the industry”
“On the memo presented by the Honourable Commissioner for Finance on the need to broaden the revenue base of the state, EXCO approved the engagement of a consultant to collect Telecom Tax in the State at five percent (5%) commission of revenue generated”
He added, following a presentation by the Honourable Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development in conjunction with Fair-Play Sports to the Council on the proposed Half International Marathon, 21.9 kilometres competition, EXCO after looking at the sports/health and economic benefits of the event to the state especially, as it concerns the convergence of the people from various parts of the country, approved the hosting of the event with the EXPO (business round table) of the event coming up on Friday, September 13, 2024 while Saturday, September 14, 2024 will be the event proper”
