Foundation empowers farmers with N1.5m grant ahead planting season in A/Ibom

As the planting season is slowly getting closer Prince Mendy Archibong’s Life Foundation has disbursed grants to the tune of 1,500,000 naira to farmers in Akwa Ibom.

The Foundation, a non-governmental organization made the donation on Monday at Obot Akara Local Government Area of the state.

The beneficiaries, who were mainly women numbering 30, selected across the 11 Wards of the LGA, received 50 thousand naira cash each as a take off grant.

Speaking, the President and founder of Prince Mendy Archibong’s Life Foundation, Prince Mendy Archibong said the grant became imperative due to the economic reality facing the country which demands urgent need to embrace agriculture.

Archibong said the choice of selecting mainly women was base on the fact that they were very passionate when it comes to agriculture so as to provide enough food for their families and make gains in the process.

 He, however, urged the beneficiaries to utilize the fund judiciously, stressing that effective use of the empowerment opportunity would help reduce extreme poverty amongst the people.

Archibong noted that the organization was targeting between 200 and 300 farmers for empowerment, adding that after the first batch, other batches would be empowered also.

“we have informed them that this is a grant and they don’t have to use the money to buy clothes, food stuffs among others, but to use the money according to what it is meant for.

” We are non-governmental organization, we can not reach to thousands of people. But we decided to choose this few women and if they do well, we will empower them more.

“After now, we have more batches. We will empower more 50 and after, that more 50 again. We are looking at about 200 to 300, to empower, that is, if this first batch, happens to do well. This organization is not funded by government but we are looking for a way to reach out to poor of the poor and it is not for the rich.

On her part, the Chairman of Obot Akara Local Government Council, Mrs Agne Udoenwenwen commended Prince Achibong’s Life Foundation for partnering with the Council to empower female farmers in the area.

She said encouraging women

who were farmers was very apt, particularly, at the time that the country was looking for alternative sources to diversify her economy.

Udoenwenwen, however, urged the women to make appropriate use of the funds and take advantage of the coming planting season to support their families.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Iffiok Effiong, who spoke with our correspondent said “I am very happy and I ask God Almighty to bless Prince Archibong’s Life foundation for wiping my tears as a widow with four children.

“I will use this money to buy crops and plant in my farmland so that I can feed my children and also train them in school.

Another beneficiary, Mrs Nsikan Samuel also said ” I am very grateful because this is God’s grace upon me and this the first time in my life to have such opportunity like this.

“I will use this money and plant crops in my farmland this season. I promised to work hard this planting season so that I can have bumper harvest.

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