…. doles out SME start-up grants, food items & toiletries to homeless Rivers’ indigenes displaced by the State Government.
Members of team Chukwudi Dimkpa today, 14th February 2022, embacked on a charity outreach to the internally displaced local duellers of Ilaubuchi-Diobu, in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Rivers State who were forcefully evicted from their homes recently, and their houses, businesses destroyed by the Rivers State Government.
During the outreach, the group, according to them said as a day marked for showing love is the reason they have come to reach out to the IDPS in their little way.
A total of ten (10) small business owners, especially women who’s trading and sources of livelihood were affected by the state government’s demolition exercise received the sum of ten thousand naira (#10,000) each as SME grant to re-start their businesses.
In addition to gifting of small business start-up grants; cartons of noodles, bags of 5kg sizes of rice, bags of sachets salts, dozens of detergents and toiletries were also donated to the IDPs, free of charge.
According Dae Steven Deegbara, who addressed the IDPs on behalf of the team during the outreach, said the gesture is in keeping with Engr Dimkpa’s lifestyle of philanthropy, humanity posture, social responsibility and sense of community to society, noting that as for team Chukwudi Dimkpa, everyone is involved.
Dae Deegbara used the opportunity to extend team Dimkpa’s solidarity and empathy to the displaced Rivers’ indigenes, adding that Engr Dimkpa’s prayers are with them now and always.
He urge benefitiaries of the largesse, especially those who received the SME grants to judiciously utilize the token and use it as opportunity to re-start their business and jack back to their livelihoods.
“Dr Chukwudi Dimkpa has asked us to tell you that he is pained as you are, and he feels very sorry for what had happened, and that his solidarity is with you. He has asked us to plead with you to make good use of the items and the money, however litter they are, so as to bring back your businesses and re-start a new life”.
“As some of you may know, the man called Chukwudi Dimkpa is presently not occupying any government position or office, he has delegated us to bring all these from his widows mind as a private person to support you in your troubling times. Please accept them as his token of kindness and love for all of you”.
Responding on behalf of the IDPs, an indigene of Ilaubuchi-Diobu community who has lived their for over 35 years, Mr Kenneth Kabaari, prayed for God’s bountiful rewards and blessing upon Dr Dimkpa and his team for the cash grants and relief items.
Mr Kabaari thanked Dimkpa and his team for the gesture, noting that the grant and relief materials will go a long way in cushioning the effects of their hardship occasioned by their forceful eviction by the Rivers State government.
Also Speaking on behalf of the benefiting women, an aged woman Mrs Ebiwari Brown, who could not hold back her joy, danced and sang praises to God, and offered prayers on Dr Dimkpa for showing them such love and kindnesses in time of difficulty.
Mrs Ebiwari Brown assured that the items, especially the SME grants will be adequately utilized to ensure that the desire and aim of team Chukwudi Dimkpa, which is to alleviate their plight, is achieved.
Other members of team Chukwudi Dimkpa who were on the charity outreach includes Mr Izim Christopher, Mr Sunny Igwechi, Mr Newmanny Newmanny and Mr Collins Ebere Okeke.
In all, over seventy (70) persons, among whom are indigent petty traders, local women and men benefitted from the charity outreach.
