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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Nkpoghoro autonomous community in Afikpo, Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has been without a market since its inception. The people produce rice, yam, cassava, maize, okro, melon, groundnut, potato, cocoyam, palm oil and other crops in large quantities but have no market to sell them.
They only depended on the general market in Afikpo, an ancient city in the southern part of the state. The people of Nkpoghoro especially the aged, find it difficult to access the market because of the hilly and stony nature of the road linking the market.
But the situation suddenly changed in July when a modern market which was constructed by one of their daughters, Comrade Immaculata Ibe, was inaugurated to support the local traders, artisans and agric produce vendors. The market named after the wife of Ebonyi State governor, Mrs. Uzoamaka Nwifuru, has 30 stalls, mini storage facility, sanitation infrastructure and other facilities that enhance buying and selling.
Ibeh, who is the Coordinator of Afikpo North-East Development Centre, used the opportunity to empower the people of the area with vocational training, and distributed start-up kits for hair dressers, tailors and shoe designers. She also distributed essential business tools and equipment to the people.
Mrs. Nwifuru, who inaugurated the modern market and flagged off the empowerment programme of the coordinator, said the market will not only boost the local economy but will also serve as a hub for social and economic interactions.
She said the empowerment of the youths was a task that every leader must embrace for the betterment of the future, describing the gesture as a monumental step toward community development and youth upliftment,
She said the gesture was part of a broader vision to promote grassroots development, stimulate local commerce, and provide sustainable opportunities for youth across the region. She expressed the hope that the market will provide a centralized modern and convenient shopping environment for residents of Nkpoghoro community.
She thanked the coordinator for complementing her efforts and that of the Governor, acknowledging the positive impact it would have on the beneficiaries
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of Afikpo local government area, Chief Timothy Nwachi, who expressed joy on the visit of the governor’s wife, praised Nwifuru for his people-oriented policies and love for Afikpo people.
In her speech, Ibe applauded the governor’s wife for her support and disclosed that the projects she put in place, including the market at Ndibe, VIP toilet at Amaozara, motorized borehole at Ubam, Princess Onyemaechi Obila Auditorium at the Development Centre headquarters, solar street lights across the area and the empowerment programme were all efforts to make life more meaningful for the people. She promised to do more.
“Your Excellency, the day you gave me the mantle of this leadership, you told me that the only interest you have is that I should take care of old mothers, women, young girls, youths, old men and everybody.
“You charged me to take care of everybody; the good, the bad, the ugly. This market is your brain child. I had a town hall meeting with the mothers of Nkpoghoro and I asked them what do they want
“Since the creation of the world, Nkpghoro doesn’t have a market. We stay in somebody’s compound to sell our produce and you came to this community and picked our daughter and made him the deputy governor, she is from here.
“You still came to Nkpoghoro and picked the least. I am from the least family and you made me the Coordinator of Afikpo North East Development Centre. This market is the evidence of all the money you have been giving to me. This is the evidence.
“The mothers told me they wanted a market where they will be selling their farm produce. In this Nkpoghoro, we are known for groundnuts and other farm produce and we actually need a market to be selling them. That is why we built this modern market for our women,” she told wife of the governor.
Ibe said that no member of the community will pay a dine while selling in the market and making use of other facilities.
She disclosed that soon, a 10-room modern toilet facility built by her for men in the community would be inaugurated to control open defecation in the area.
The inauguration of the modern market and the empowerment of the people of the area by the coordinator has been receiving commendation within Afikpo and the entire state.
Special Assistant to Governor Francis Nwifuru on New Media, Leo Oketa, described the performance of Ibe as outstanding and urged other leaders in the state to emulate her in supporting Nwifuru’s initiatives to cater for the needs of their constituents.
He said: “As the Coordinator of Afikpo North East Development Centre, your recent achievements underscore your dedication to addressing the pressing and long-term needs of your community.
“Your decision to erect proper structures for local markets in your area is good. Such development plays a crucial role in rural development and economic empowerment. These markets provide farmers, artisans, and small entrepreneurs with direct access to consumers, reducing reliance on middlemen and increasing their profit margins. When villagers can sell their produce and goods locally, it not only boosts household incomes but also strengthens the rural economy.
“I believe this marketplace will also foster community interaction and encourage the consumption of fresh, locally sourced products. The governor has always encouraged practical agriculture for proper impact and sustainability. I believe as well, that your achievements will support sustainable agriculture and reduce the environmental impact of long-distance transportation.
“Moreover, the presence of active marketplaces such as yours, especially in the rural areas create jobs, retain the youths and encourage entrepreneurship, and attract services such as transportation and storage, banking and more.
“Your other empowerments are key as well in boosting local transportation, increasing capital for businesses, job creation, and overall economic growth of the area. In truth, your projects are strategic steps toward inclusive growth, rural self-reliance, and economic resilience. These form the essence of creating development centres – for impactful transformations.Well done, Immaculata Ibe.”
