FGN/IFAD-VCDP DISTRIBUTES POS MACHINES TO PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSONS IN OGBARU LGA

By Henry Anagboso :

The Chairman Ogbaru Local Government Area, Mr. Pascal Aniegbuna has called on the people of Ogbaru to make judicious use of government intervention and supports through Agricultural Programmes like the Value Chain Development Programme, VCDP, to better their lives.

The Chairman made this call during the handing over of Point of Sale, POS, machines to the physically challenged persons today at the Local Government Secretary’s office, Atani.

The chairman in his speech enjoined them to accept the support with warm embrace as it is geared to make them become financially independent, he added that such gesture scarcely come and when it does, it is advised that one makes judicious use of such opportunity.

Mr. Aniegbuna commended the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, Programme, VCDP for their support while urging the beneficiaries to utilize the opportunity to encourage the donor to reach out to more vulnerable people in their community. 

Earlier, the VCDP Rural Finance officer, Mr. Chukwujekwu Obianefo explained that the POS terminal was considered a vital tool for empowerment to support the vulnerable across the participating LGAs of the Programme, using the new LGAs of Ogbaru, Ihiala and Orumba South as pilot area which would be extended to other LGAs in due time.

Mr. Obianefo said the support was part of the VCDP mainstreaming initiative of financial inclusion and considering the Programme’s concern for the vulnerable and people living with disabilities, to help them come out of poverty. 

In a vote of thanks, Mrs. Amaka Onyema, a primary healthcare worker and one of the physically challenged persons from Amaiyi community, applauded the IFAD-VCDP for the kind gesture and promised they would put it to use and achieve the objective of the support. 

Mrs. Nkiru Okonkwo, a widow from great Umunankwo Cooperative Society and Mr. Ozoemena Okori  from Destiny farmers, Umuezehobi expressed their gratitude over the support and pledged to make good use of the device, adding that the support would really impact their lives.

“I want to thank the VCDP for this support of POS machine given to me, I am grateful. I want to also thank the state government, as well as the Federal Government and I pray that God will bless them all.”

*Anagboso writes for the Ministry of Information, Anambra State*