Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has stated that the Micro Credit programme of his administration was designed to make Deltans economically buoyant and employers of labour

ita State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has stated that the Micro Credit programme of his administration was designed to make Deltans economically buoyant and employers of labour. According to him, the money given to beneficiaries of the scheme was take- off capital which should yield profit if properly managed. Dr Uduaghan spoke yesterday [22-7-14] at Eku, Ethiope East local government area of the state during the presentation of certificates to 138 cluster groups who were the beneficiaries of Delta State Micro Credit Programme (DMCP). According to him, "the money is seed money that you must use to grow your business, it is not for you to buy cars and build houses as you will comfortably do that when your business is doing well." He emphasised that there was no discrimination in the choice of beneficiaries of the micro credit programme and urged those who are yet to benefit from the scheme to be patient. Dr Uduaghan also urged youths to utilize windows presented by the “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative to engage in actions that will cater for their needs at old age. "Youths should be hardworking and emulate those who have made it through genuine means, they should shun social vices and utilise empowerment programmes that we have," the Governor said, asserting, "this is the time to prepare genuinely for old age." He disclosed that over 100, 000 Deltans have benefitted from the micro credit scheme since its introduction in 2007 and they have become employers of labour. Delta State Deputy Governor, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) noted that Governor Uduaghan will not relent in positioning Deltans for future challenges. The Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Dr Anthonia Ashiedu in a welcome address, thanked Governor Uduaghan for sustaining the programme which has empowered a lot of Deltans. Beneficiaries of the scheme who spoke at the occasion said their businesses have grown and that they have become employers of labour instead of job seekers. 23 July Uduaghan Decries Lack Of Maintenance Culture Among Civil Servants DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has decried lack of maintenance culture among civil servants in the country. Speaking yesterday [22-7-2014] at Nana College, Warri where he paid an unscheduled inspection tour of facilities, Governor Uduaghan said it was wrong for the recently installed facilities to be in unkempt state. He stated that his administration would not condone situation where government property were taken for granted and ordered that government properties should be handled with care. The Governor rhetorically asked the teacher at the Physics Laboratory if she would allow her personal residence to be so unkempt. Dr. Uduaghan reiterated that continuous monitoring of government property to prevent misuse would be carried out by him, his commissioners and political aides. In an interview, the governor observed that, obviously, the teachers were yet to understand how to manage the ultra- modern equipment in the recently constructed and equipped colleges, assuring that there will be constant monitoring of how such equipment are used to ensure that they stand the test of time and also, used for the purpose they were acquired for. Governor Uduaghan later participated in a Social Studies lecture for Junior Secondary 2 students where he rendered advice on career choice. Dr Uduaghan who commenced the inspection tour at about 8.30 am, also inspected Atuwatse II Model Primary School, the Mother and Child Hospital, Warri and the Government Baptist Hospital, Eku. 23 July Free Maternal Healthcare: Uduaghan tells Pregnant Women to resist Extortion DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has warned pregnant women and nursing mothers not to give money to anybody since the cost of their Medicare was covered by the State Government's Free Maternal and under-five Healthcare programmes. Dr Uduaghan gave the warning on Tuesday while giving antenatal talk to pregnant women at the Mother and Child Centre of the Central Hospital, Warri. Governor Uduaghan who inquired from the women if doctors and nurses were collecting money from them and was answered in the negative, urged them to resist any action to the contrary. "You are not to give money to anybody, you should not make any payment, even if it requires operation, it is free and your children who are five years and below have free medical attention," the governor said. He advised the expectant mothers to keep their antenatal clinic appointments religiously in the interest of their health and their unborn babies. He added: "You must come here and deliver your babies, do not register for ante-natal and when it is time for delivery, you will leave the hospital and go to meet one woman because everybody (nurses) you see here are professionals," reiterating, "keep your regular appointments so that you will have safe delivery." The governor also charged the women to ensure that their children got routine immunization, noting, "you must immunize your children, you must breast feed your children." Dr. Uduaghan also urged women who have four children to meet nurses and doctors in government hospitals for counseling on effective family planning while also stressing the need for proper child spacing. Women who spoke at the occasion thanked Governor Uduaghan for providing state of the art facilities freely for them and their children. 23 July UNIDO, NEPC, NIPC Thrilled As Uduaghan Unfolds Investment/ Export Potentials of Delta Delta State has been assured of support by stakeholders including United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), and Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC) in its strive for investment components of its Delta Beyond Oil policy which seeks to exploit non oil resources for economic empowerment of the people. They gave the assurance Thursday, when the Governor of the State Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan gave a detailed presentation of the State’s export potentials, to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council at the organization’s headquarters in Abuja. Explaining efforts aimed at encouraging small and medium scale entrepreneurs to produce and export goods and services as well as attract funding to them, Uduaghan said a conducive atmosphere awaited prospective investors adding that the presentation tagged “Dialogue on Delta Beyond Oil was for Delta State to partner with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. The Governor said he has intensified efforts to expand industrialization in Delta State, taking advantage of support of local and international development organizations particularly the United Nations Industrial development organization, UNIDO and the World Bank. Governor Uduaghan stated that Delta State had been exporting non – oil products to drive development and youth empowerment stressing that investors were needed to explore the development of exportable products including solid minerals. The State Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, who is also the Chairman of the Delta State Economic Planning Management Team, Chief Kenneth Okpara also made a detail presentation of the State’s economic growth and efforts to attract investors and promote export. According to him, Delta State recorded an impressive eight point five (8.5% ) economic growth last year, a feat he noted was achieved through Governor Uduaghan’s astute management of resources. He said government had encouraged industrialization through the support of the World Bank and the Bank of Industry as well as the recruitment of technocrats to achieve professionalism particularly in the management of human capital resources. Chief Okpara appealed for support in developing solid mineral resources, technical expertise in products processing and standardization training and participation in export production village’s activities. The UNIDO Country Representative, Nigeria, Dr. Patrick Kormawa noted Delta State’s commitment to their partnership which has promoted industrialization particularly in the growth of leather and shoe making enterprises. He commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for the Delta Beyond Oil Vision and pledged his support. In her contribution the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, Mrs. Saratu Umar pledged the support of her organization in attracting foreign direct investment to Delta State. The Director of Project Development, Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mr. Henry Otowo in a presentation on non- oil Export potentials and opportunities in Delta State advised Delta State to setup its committee on export promotion and identify the product it has comparative advantage as well as export production village for palm oil and its derivatives. Mr. Otowo applauded governor Uduaghan for being the first governor in the country to look beyond oil for her economic development. He advised that the Delta State Micro- Credit Programme operational scope be expanded to include functional export cooperative adding that the abundant entertainment on the tourism potentials of the State be developed for export. Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council Mr. Olusegun Awolowo said Delta State’s development of non – oil resources and provision of infrastructure to attract investors was in consonance with his organization’s vision of promoting the development and export of non –oil resources,. He urged Delta State to conduct supply based study of her exportable products. Highlight of the occasion, was the presentation of some of the state’s exportable products including plantain flour, food spices and hand woven akwa –ocha clothes to the Nigeria Export Promotion Council and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, by the State Governor.