Oghe Social Development Association (OSDA), on Sunday, raised the sum of N1.129 to support its members in their businesses and empower those looking for money to go into self employment and other economic activities.
The Association at its monthly general meeting in Abuja, said it was worried at the effect of the economic challenges in the country on its members, and added that the measure was to mitigate their pains.
Chairman of the Standing Committee on Empowerment Chief Osita Nwafor, who addressed the meeting before the launching, said the Committee highlighted thematic areas it would focus on how to alleviate the effects of the Federal Government’s economic policies on the members.
Chief Nwafor also said his committee would collaborate with the OSDA Works Committee on the kind of investments needed to utilise the Association’s land in Kuje Local Government Area, into productive use.
“We will search for employment opportunities and capacity building for job seekers (and) engage with Oghe organisations in the Diaspora (for) opportunities in medical mission, educational and ICT opportunities for our primary and secondary school students in Oghe Communities,” the Committee Chairman assured.
He also disclosed that the Committee would engage with political stakeholders and network with individuals of Oghe origin, on how to empower members of the Association.
Chief Nwafor recalled that his Committee had before now, organised pre-retirement training programmes for OSDA members before their disengagement from the civil service, as well as prepare graduates and other school leavers on how to write their curriculum vitae and attend job interviews.
“Already, some of our members are coordinating scouting for job openings in Government Ministries, Agencies and Private Organisations, and formation of Cooperative Society.
“My role is to work with the Team Leaders of all the thematic areas and decide our targets and achieve results,” the Committee Chairman stated.
Nwafor called for every members contributions, adding, “No matter how little, I want everybody to participate and make contribution so that we will collectively own this project.”
The OSDA President, Mr. Gerald Aniamalu, commended the Committee for its mapped out programmes, and called on Oghe indigenes both at home and in Diaspora for their support.
Aniamalu assured that the money would be disbursed as soft loan to targeted audience, explaining that “This is to put them in check so that they will not see it as free gift. The loan will be extended to our women (OSDA Women Wing), because if our women are empowered, we are also empowered also.
“We are happy that some members, and our women we gave loan before are doing well. We want to empower more people.
“That is why we need everybody’s support, to raise more funds to reach many of our as possible.”
Aniamalu said the donation will be a continuous process, and stated that the target is N100 million “and even more, because we know the rate of inflation in the country now.”
