From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
There was excitement recently as a group, Umuhu Think Tank, in Umuhu autonomous community in Ngor Okpala council area of Imo State held the first phase of its empowerment projects for youths of the community at St Patrick’s Catholic Mission, Mbutu Okohia in Umuhu.
The group which gave out new sewing machines, hair salon equipment, new generators, baking oven, car spraying equipment, grinding machines, scholarships and cash donations to 20 youths from the community to enable them start their own businesses. The group also paid for the shops of the beneficiaries to enable them have a smooth take off.
The coordinator of the group, Rev Hilary Okere, disclosed that it had resolved after the first Umuhu Youths Summit held in December 2024 to assist the youths of the community through impactful empowerment to enable them to realize their dreams. He stated that youth restiveness in the community could only be tackled if those who had learnt a trade or vocational skills are assisted to set up their own businesses.
The coordinator said: “What you’re witnessing today was a promise made by the Umuhu Think Tank Group in December 2024 during the Umuhu Youth Summit: that we are going to equip those youths with skills. We also know that the only way to tackle youths restiveness in our community is by assisting our brothers and sisters by providing them what they need to start their own businesses.
“We are not politicians and nobody from this group is contesting anything, neither are we being sponsored by anybody. This group is made up civil servants, businessmen and professionals from this community both at home and in the diaspora. All the the things we are giving out to the 20 beneficiaries from the community is a result of individual sacrifices. We pray that the beneficiaries will grow bigger from this little beginning. Those are farmers were also financial assistance to help them, as well as those in engaged in foodstuff business were given money to expand their business. The second phase of this project will hold this December 2025.”
Similarly, the chairman of the empowerment committee, Kingsley Eke, said four beneficiaries were selected from each of the five villages that make up Umuhu autonomous community and that their selections were based on merit. He further revealed that the beneficiaries got what they had requested to enable them to start their own businesses.
He pointed out that 60 persons who had initially filled the forms in which the group had requested to know their line of trade or vocational skills they had acquired, and what they needed to set up their own businesses or workshops. According to him, the 20 beneficiaries emerged following background checks to ascertain their claims and seriousness.
He said: “I had personally visited their homes to find out for myself that indeed they are in need. We don’t want to waste the little resources on people who are not serious to utilize this opportunity given to them to make something meaningful of their lives.
“We have also warned the beneficiaries that those items are not to be sold because the receipts are issued in the name ” Umuhu Think Tank” but for them to use it to help themselves. We also paid the NECO examinations fees for some of the youths. We are not politicians like the coordinator had earlier said but public servants, businessmen and professionals who are making personal sacrifices to assist our younger brothers and sisters in this community through this means.”
The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Basil Anyanwu, Uhu 11 of Umuhu, who commended the group for the laudable initiative, called on other groups to emulate what the Think Tank Group had done.
He said: “I am exceedingly happy today that members of Think Tank Group have thought it wise to pull their resources together to give their younger brothers and sisters means of livelihood. My advice to the beneficiaries today is for them to seize this rare opportunity to better their lives. They did not just give you working tools but equally paid for your shops. Everything given to you today are brand new from the power generating sets to the sewing machines, including baking ovens and grinding machine. Your destinies are now in your hands,” the monarch said.
Also, Hon Nze Darlington Okereafor, secretary to the Ngor Okpala council, who represented the council chairperson, Hon Chika Ibekwe, advised the beneficiaries to water the seeds given to them.
The beneficiaries, who spoke to Daily Sun, expressed their deep gratitude to their benefactors who pulled together their personal resources to give them the tools to ply their respective areas of business.