Florence Oduah/Charity Okechukwu/Chioma Ezeiru/Anastasia Ezenwa/Jacinta Okoye
The Mayor of Aguata, Dr. Chibueze Ofobuike has empowered 70 youths from Aguata Local Government Area(LGA) with tools and equipment to grow their businesses.
The beneficiaries received the equipment in the 2025 Aguata Business and Leadership Summit at Diakon Hotel, Ekwulobia.
The tools and equipments include industrial Sewing Machines, Generator Set, Carpentry Tools, Tile Cutting Machines, Printers, Electrical Tool boxes, Inverter Welding Machines and so on.
Dr Ofobuike charged the youths to utilize the tools and the knowledge gained from lectures as delivered by well established business owners in the Summit.
“Let the hours you have spent here today listening to lectures from established business owners and brands count. Practice everything you heard from them and make good use of the equipment you are given to grow your business.”
He said that he invited the speakers to share the knowledge and stories on how they grew their brands with Aguata youths who own small businesses so that the youths would be challenged and draw strength from the stories to grow their businesses bearing in mind that it is doable.
The Mayor noted that the next batch of empowerment (2.1) will hold soon.
“There are still more youths that are doing well and we hope to empower and support them in the next batch of empowerment (2.1) coming up soon.”
The Keynote Speaker, Mr Don Ebubeogu, Managing Director (MD) of Tiger Foods Limited, shared with the young business owners the growth trajectory of his brand and the principles that contributed to its growth.
He noted perseverance, honesty and consistency as key factors to sustaining any business and encouraged Aguata Youths to be steadfast, honest and consistent in growing their businesses.
The Tiger Foods boss supported 70 Aguata youths with N50,000 each to support their business.
Another Speaker, Engr. Chukwudinma Obiegbunam, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Power Company Limited, presented instant employment opportunities to five Aguata youths and also supported 20 others with the sum of N1,000,000 to add to their businesses.
He shared with the youths, how his brand, a renewable energy company survived and thrived using the four core values in business.
He said passion, boldness, honesty and consistency are values that every business owner must possess.
Engr. Obiegbunam encouraged the small business owners to lead modest lifestyle and focus on growing their brands.
Also speaking at the occasion, the MD of Garri Nteje, Ms Chidimma Oramali encouraged the small business owners to join associations that can help grow their brands.
She said that Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) are good recommendations.
Ms Oramali said that she was trained and mentored by German experts at no cost because of her membership of (NACCIMA).
The Garri Nteje boss, assured that she would recommend interested Aguata youths willing to be mentored to the German experts as a way of supporting their businesses.
A popular Facebook influencer and humanitarian, Lord Zeus took the youths through transparency, trust and diligence in business or any task entrusted to them.
He said the trust they build today would open doors of greater opportunities for them in the future.
A beneficiary, Ms Jacinta Umeakuana from Amesi said she is excited to receive a brand new Industrial Sewing Machine to support her sewing business.
She expressed her appreciation to the Mayor of Aguata and the volunteers for Greater Aguata for the empowerment and assured that she would utilize it well.
The Mayor presented Awards of Appreciation to the Speakers on behalf of Aguata people.
The officers are of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
