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Umahi’s N1m surprise package for two teenage hawkers

By Editor
27 November 2016   |   3:34 am
Luck smiled at two teenage hawkers in Abakaliki last Tuesday, as Governor David Umahi, doled out N1m to them.
Parents of the teenage hawkers with their children

Parents of the teenage hawkers with their children

Luck smiled at two teenage hawkers in Abakaliki last Tuesday, as Governor David Umahi, doled out N1m to them.

The two children, Ukamaka Ikema and Chimuanya Nwarie, had unknowingly ran into the governor, who was inspecting the Akanu Ibiam Round About Flyover, along the Transahara Expressway in the city.

Ikema, aged 10 is a Primary Three pupil of Ezikwo Primary School, while 12-year-old Nwarie, is a Junior Secondary One student of Evangel Nursery, Primary and Secondary School, in the state capital.

Umahi, who was in company of his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, and some members of the state Executive Council, had on noticing that his security aides frightened the children, directed his orderly to bring them to him.

After interacting with Ukamaka, who was hawking sachet water, the governor asked his ADC to deploy a patrol vehicle to fetch the parents of the teenagers from their homes.

The children had told the governor that they had to hit the streets to hawk on their return from school.

A statement on Wednesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya, explained that at the Government House, Umahi interacted with the mothers of the two children, warning them against sending their wards to hawk.

After listening to the plight of the children’s parents, he approved N500, 000 for the upkeep and tuition of each of the girls.

Umahi told the parents to deposit N200, 000 each in their bank accounts and use the balance to start small-scale business. Before they departed the Government House, accounts were opened for the two children by officials of Zenith Bank.

The overjoyed women were in for more surprises, as they were both offered temporary appointments by the governor.

Both mothers, Mrs. Blessing Nwarie, and Mrs. Ada Nwota, who hail from Okposi in Ohaozara Local Council, could not contain their joy over the pleasant surprise, even as they thanked the governor for his kind gesture.

They said they were convinced that Governor Umahi was sent by God to uplift the downtrodden in the state.

“I pray the Almighty God to continue to shower his blessings and wisdom upon our amiable governor and family,” Mrs. Nwarie said.

On their part, the two girls thanked the governor for affecting their lives in ways they never imagined, and promised to be good children.

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