Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has urged political office holders and corporate individuals to support government’s efforts to alleviate poverty in the country.

Govenor Uduaghan who gave this charge on Friday, March 21, 2014 in Asaba when he flagged off the distribution of items to beneficiaries at the second Senator Ifeanyi Okowa Empowerment Programme said that poverty alleviation was a key programme of the Federal and state governments

However, he noted that government cannot do it alone and enjoined public office holders, corporate individuals and other organisations to support government to empower the people and reduce the level of poverty in the country.

He lauded Senator, (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa for his consistency in empowering his people as well as the volume of projects he has attracted to his constituency, stressing that these projects would help in developing the state and reduce poverty among the people.

His words “ I have to commend you Senator Okowa for this empowerment programme, what you are doing is of great assistance to the state and federal government. The government cannot do it alone we need political office holders and corporate bodies to assist us, this will help alleviate poverty in this country.”

The governor commended Senator Okowa for doing the state proud as a senator stating that his sponsorship of over 12 bills in less than three years in the Senate was a record .

He stressed that the empowerment programme was an instructive gesture for those aspiring to be senator and political office holder worthy of emulation.

Governor Uduaghan admonished the benefiaciaries of the items to use them judiciously stressing that the items should not be sold.

He enjoined them to also try to use the items to empower other less privileged people in their society.

“ Let us use these items to empower others, you can employ other people with the items you will receive today. This will expand with the atendant mutiplier effect for this empowerment programme.”, the governor stressed.

In welcome address, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the initiator of the empowerment programme and Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District, explained that the empowerment programme was aimed at reducing the pains of unemployment and building hope for Deltans.

He observed that it was his responsibility to represent his people who have given him the mandate to serve them in the National Assembly and assured them that he will not fail them

According to him “ l have tried to be a good representative of my people in the past 33months that l have been in the senate, l want to re-assure you that l will not abuse the mandate you have given me.”

He commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his transformation agenda and Governor Uduaghan for his support and urged Nigerians to continue to support the administration of President Jonathan.

Speaking on the second empowerment programme, the senator explained that 150 tricycles, 9 ambulances; 1 Nissan /bus; 123 sewing machines, 56 grinding machines; 25 deep freezers; 20 photocopying machines; 20 computer sets and 250 women to receive monetary support.

Other speakers including Senator Gyang Datong who represented the Senate President and Chief Benjamin Elue commended senator Okowa for the exercise.