By Mokobia Rita.
UMUKWATA/Nigeria: More than 400 residents of Ward 4, Umukwata, in Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, have received various forms of empowerment support aimed at strengthening household livelihoods and promoting small-scale economic activities.
The intervention was initiated by the ward’s councillors, Hon. Damian Ishie and Hon. Frankmayor Oguye, and held on Friday, September 18, 2026, under the supervision of the Executive Chairman of Ukwuani Local Government Council, Hon. Barr. C.S. Possible Ajede, PhD.
The beneficiaries’ support formed the central focus of the programme, which drew residents and community stakeholders who commended the organisers for directing resources towards economic assistance at the grassroots.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Assistant to the Delta State Governor on Security and Omenosa of Umukwata, Chief Isaac Onyesom, said empowerment programmes of the kind could help residents improve their livelihoods when beneficiaries were able to deploy the support productively.
Onyesom also commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration, saying initiatives that improve people’s economic capacity could contribute to stronger communities and local economic activity.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the assistance responsibly and turn the support into sustainable sources of income.
The community leader also acknowledged the roles of Ishie and Oguye in organising the intervention, describing it as a way of bringing development efforts closer to residents at the ward level.
He said support directed at individuals and small businesses could have wider effects when beneficiaries were able to expand their activities, support their families and create opportunities for others.
The programme comes against the backdrop of continuing efforts by the Ukwuani Local Government administration to promote grassroots interventions. Public records show that the council under Ajede has previously undertaken initiatives involving digital-skills training, education support and agricultural development.
The Ward 4 empowerment exercise, however, was specifically focused on providing direct assistance to residents, with organisers and community stakeholders emphasising the need for beneficiaries to convert the support into productive economic activity.
Residents who attended the programme expressed appreciation for the intervention, while community leaders called for continued initiatives that would address economic needs at the ward and community levels.
The organisers said the objective was to strengthen self-reliance among beneficiaries and contribute to improved economic wellbeing within the community.
