The lawmaker representing Awka North and Awka South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Oby Orogbu, has empowered over 500 constituents with vehicles, business equipment, vocational tools and educational support, as part of a broader push to reduce poverty and promote self-reliance across the constituency.

The programme, the second phase of an initiative themed “Empowering Communities, Building Futures,” was held in Awka and drew a large crowd of beneficiaries, political leaders, traditional rulers, community stakeholders and party faithful, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Beneficiaries went home with cars, shuttle buses, tricycles, motorcycles, sewing machines, grinding machines, deep freezers and generating sets, items selected to support transportation, small businesses and household income generation.

Scholarships were also handed out to deserving students as part of Orogbu’s broader push to widen access to education in the constituency.

Speaking at the event on Friday, Orogbu, who represents the constituency on the platform of the NDC, described the gesture as her way of appreciating the thousands of supporters and volunteers who backed her during the 2023 general elections.

She stressed that the empowerment programme was designed as more than a welfare handout, framing it instead as an economic intervention meant to create jobs and lift living standards across households in Awka North and Awka South.

Acknowledging that not everyone who supported her could be reached in this phase, she assured constituents that a further round of empowerment has already been scheduled for November.

Peter Obi, who attended as special guest of honour, commended Orogbu for what he described as purposeful, people-oriented representation, while also praising Senator Victor Umeh for his continued support to the constituency’s development. Obi argued that genuine leadership should be judged by its tangible impact on citizens’ lives rather than political promises, adding that empowerment programmes capable of lifting people out of poverty ultimately help curb crime and insecurity. He used the platform to renew his criticism of the state of governance in Nigeria, pointing to unemployment, weak healthcare and growing insecurity, and called for credible elections in 2027 built on equity and fairness.

Senator Umeh, representing Anambra Central, described Orogbu as a rare asset to her constituents, citing her legislative contributions, scholarships and infrastructure projects as evidence of her impact. He argued that giving her a second term would elevate her to a ranking position in the House, boosting her ability to attract further development to the area. The Anambra NDC chairman, Ikem Uzoezie, also praised Orogbu for keeping her campaign promises and urged constituents to sustain their support for the party.

Photo Credit: Anambra Daily