GFO Orim Foundation partners ITF to Train, Empower 45 Constituents in C’River North

Ukorebi Esien | 8th April, 2024 

CALABAR- The GFO Orim Foundation in partnership with the Industrial Training Fund, has trained and empowered 45 constituents from the Obanliku, Bekwara, Obudu Federal Constituency of Cross River Northern Senatorial District. CP can confirm. 

The training and empowerment of young constituents which is the sixth edition in a row by the GFO Orim Foundation held recently in Obudu where beneficiaries who had undergone trainings in Installation of Solar Power Street Lights, Hair Dressing and Beauty Care were empowered with Start-up kits to begin their respective businesses.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the foundation, Chief Martins Orim, former Chief of Staff to Cross River east while Governor, Sen Ben Ayade, said the foundation was borne out of his desire to take young people off the street while keeping them away from crime. He added that the ideology behind his empowerment programs is to teach people how to fish and not to give them bread. According to him, when you give a man a fish, you have fed him for a day; but when you teach him how to fish and you have fed him for a lifetime.

He encouraged trainees to make good use of their skills and opportunities granted them via the foundation, noting that it is essential to create wealth through skill empowerment. He thanked the Voice Foundation for their support in selecting beneficiaries and encouraged them to monitor their progress in contributing back to society.

In his remarks, the Director of Industrial Training Fund, Engr. Suleiman informed that the three months of intensive training given the beneficiaries was a rigorous one tasking the beneficiaries to take advantage of the skills and contribute positively to society. 

The Chairman of the event, Hon Engr Thomas Aruku, who represents Ogoja State constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly disclosed that he has been part of the program for the past 6 years adding that the sixth edition was special because the former Chief of Staff was no longer in office. 

He added that one unique and baffling aspect of the sixth edition of the foundation’s empowerment programs is the fact the the chairman even after leaving office is able to sustain the gesture and the fact that the sixt edition also carefully selected those whose live may have been shattered by life circumstances to rekindle their hopes.

He further pledged to assist some of the beneficiaries, especially those who are into plumbing. 

“I must commend the chairman and his partners very sincerely, let me say that amongst the beneficiaries and from the kits displayed out there we have people whom would have thought that having gotten pregnant early at teenage age, their lives have been shattered but with this empowerment, their hopes have been rekindled.”

“I am very particular about this one because it’s coming when the chairman of the foundation is out of office and the targeted beneficiaries is something that has strike my modifying spirit.”

“For we who are politicians, ordinarily when you embark on a project, they will say allow him after one or two years he fissile out. 

But an edition to see the sixth one. No Matter how you pretend, after two or three editions, if you were pretending you will be exposed. 

But for you to persist and allow it run up to the sixth edition is coming when the chairman is out of office. Ordinarily, one should say let me skip this one until when I will find something doing, but we are gathered here in our numbers.”

I am happy to be part of this empowerment and the crop of beneficiaries are people who will go back to the society to add value. For the plumbers, I will follow you up, I will want to be one of those persons that will want to mentor you, I will like to be one of those persons that will want to patronise you, I will want to be part of your moving to the next level strategy.” 

The Deputy Speaker, Hon Sylvester Agabi Jnr, Bekwara Community Relations Officer to Governor Bassey Otu Patrick Oko, the Obudu Chapter Chairman of the All Progressive Congress,  Mr Hilary Ibli, and other stakeholders present at the event, applauded  Chief Orim’s developmental initiative. They noted that Chief Orim has become a household name through his contribution to the people. They urged the trainees to pray for the benefactor of God’s continuous blessings and to keep doing more to reduce the crime rate in society.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Okaku Isaac, thanked Chief Orim for adding value to their lives through training and empowerment. He noted that with the empowerment, Chief Martin Orim had succeeded in removing people from the streets and turning them into self-employed persons. He further prayed for God’s blessing upon Chief Orim.

It was observed that most of the female beneficiaries were young girls who had experienced teenage pregnancy and given up in life. But with the help of The Voice Foundation, they were fished out, trained in different skills set and empowered to start up their various businesses. 

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