From Ifeoma Ejiofor
Obosi town in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State was on Saturday thrown into a jubilant mood as former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka, commenced support to small businesses in the community.
Over one hundred petty traders benefited from the business grant, which was presented to the market women by the wife of the former minister, Barr. Chidinma Chidoka.
Chief Chidoka had during his mother’s burial in May 2023 promised to set up a business support fund in the memory of Late Deaconess Victoria Nneka Chidoka to assist women petty traders.
Recall that Chidoka had, before his mother’s burial organized a free Cervical Cancer screening and medical care tagged Nneka Chidoka Outreach Program in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Goverment Area and Obosi in Idemili North Local Goverment Area.
Over one thousand patients received treatment for various illnesses, including malaria, diabetes, and so on; prescription glasses were also given to over three hundred patients.
A beneficiary, Mrs Alice Mbara, who spoke amid tears of joy, thanked Chief Chidoka for his intervention.
Mrs. Mbara, a watermelon and orange hawker in the market, noted that she makes little or no profit from the business to afford one good meal for her children daily, a situation that forced her to engage her 12 years old son in the orange hawking business all in a bid to feed.
She pointed out that the business grant would enable her to pay for a stand in the market, expand her business and stop her teenage son from hawking.