Luck smiled on two teenage hawkers in Abakaliki on Tuesday as Governor
David Umahi doled out N1m to them.
The two children, Ukamaka Ikema and Chimuanya Nwarie,had unknowingly ran
into the governor who was inspecting the Akanu Ibiam round about flyover
along the Transhara Ex[presway in the city. .
Ukamaka, aged 10 is a primary 3 pupil of Ezikwo Primary School while
Chimuanya, who is 12, is a JS I student of Evangel Nursery,Primary
and Secondary school in the state capital.
Governor Umahi, who was in company with his deputy, Kelechi Igwe and
some members of the state Executive Council,had on noticing that his
security aides frightened the children directed his orderly to bring them
to him.
After interacting with Ukamaka, who was hawking satchet water, the
governor asked his ADC to deploy a patrol vehicle to go and pick up the
parents of the teenagers from their homes.The children had told the
governor that they had closed from school before hitting the streets to
hawk.
A statement on Wednesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma
Anya, explained that at the Government House,Engr. Umahi interacted with
the mothers of the two children,warning them against sending their wards
to hawk. After hearing the plight of the children’s parents, he approved
N500,000 for each of them for the upkeep and tuition of the two
children .
Umahi told the parents to deposit N200, 000 each in their banks and
use the balance of N300,000 each to start small scale business. The women
who were over-joyed also had another package:They were both offered
temporary appointments by the governor.
Before they left the Government House, accounts were opened for the two
children by officials of Zenith Bank.
The mothers of the two beneficiaries,Mrs Blessing Nwarie and and Mrs Ada
Nwota,both natives of Okposi in Ohaozara Local Government Area could not
hide their joy as they praised and thanked the governor for his kind
gesture.They said they were convinced that Governor Umahi was sent by God
to uplift the downtrodden in the state.
“I pray the Almighty God to continue to shower his blessings and wisdom
upon our amiable governor and family”, Mrs Nwarie said.
Ukamaka and Nwarie,in their separate remarks,thanked Umahi and
promised to be good children.
Mrs Blessing Nwarie(left) and and Mrs Ada Nwota with the child hawkers at
the Government House in Abakaliki on Tuesday.