Cleric trains, empowers 35 entrepreneurs with N10m in A’Ibom

Founder and President of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA), Rev. Uma Ukpai, has trained and empowered no fewer than 35 entrepreneurs with N10 million as a grant in Akwa Ibom State.

The beneficiaries were trained in key areas of financial and business management, among other areas, to equip them with exceptional skills to expand their existing businesses.

The Church noted that the beneficiaries were empowered after a serious scrutiny of them.

While disbursing the grant to the beneficiaries in the Church auditorium, at the weekend, in Uyo, the cleric disclosed that the essence of the empowerment was to eradicate poverty.

Ukpai recalled that when he lost his father at a very tender age, he knew what poverty was like. He also noted that at the age of four, he went into a business that earned him over N70, 000 a week to support his family.

He said: “I want to tell you that age has nothing to do with wealth creation; what we all need is access to the right information.”

“I want to advise you that we have introduced you to a partnership with God, and what is left is the role you have to play. We have taught you how to depend on God, how to ask him and for information.

“I needed about N13 million to give the National University Commission (NUC) part of the money for turning our (the Church) Polytechnic into a University, giving you (beneficiaries) N10 million. By yesterday, I didn’t know how the money was going to come.

“But there is this information that only God can give and can change you into something else. I got the money through God’s intervention.”

Ukpai urged the beneficiaries to use the grant to expand their businesses and create employment for other unemployed people.

Speaking with our correspondent, the overall winner of the grant, Elder Ini-obong Akwa, expressed happiness for the gesture, assuring that the grant will be multiplied through prudent management and job creation.

Another beneficiary, Uduak Daniel, said she was trained in entrepreneurship, but did not dream of receiving such a huge amount of money, adding that she will ensure that her business would be expanded to create employment for others.