The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan-Enoh, has criticised some beneficiaries of empowerment programmes for selling off equipment given to them to start businesses.
Owan-Enoh said the practice was discouraging sponsors and politicians from extending similar interventions to their constituents.
He spoke yesterday in Calabar during the grand finale of the John Owan-Enoh Support and Training Programme, where 191 beneficiaries graduated and received financial and equipment support.
The minister said despite the disappointment caused by some beneficiaries, he remained committed to empowering people to become self-reliant.
He said, “For me as a politician, it’s not so much about thinking about doing good to the people but whether the people will actually appreciate and use such goodness or benefits to help themselves and society in return.
“It’s a big challenge. I recall that when I was in the House of Representatives, there were times I would donate hundreds of tricycles, sewing machines and other equipment, but in a few days, the beneficiaries would sell them off.
“One month after one such exercise, I was driving around Ikom and I didn’t find the tricycles anymore. Traders had come with trailers and bought them off.
“But how long will the money they sold them for last? This attitude is very worrisome.”
Owan-Enoh urged beneficiaries and constituents to take responsibility for empowerment items received from their representatives and use them judiciously.
The coordinator of the programme, Agba Jalingo, said the selection of beneficiaries was based on established criteria despite pressures from different quarters.
Jalingo added that neither the sponsor nor his team interfered with the selection process.
The intervention and coordinating officer of the programme, Engr. Sylvester Ogar, said beneficiaries were selected and trained at centres across the three senatorial districts of Cross River State.
Ogar said the programme also included medical outreaches, with interventions covering conditions such as diabetes.
The programme officer, Eunice Njor, said 21,822 people had so far been reached through the medical component of the programme and received medical tests and attention.
