PASTOR ESEME UDI EMPOWERS ESIT EKET WIDOWS, PETTY TRADERS.

PASTOR ESEME UDI EMPOWERS ESIT EKET WIDOWS, PETTY TRADERS.

Founder, In Due Season Organisation, a community-based  humanitarian body, Pastor Eseme Emmanuel Udi, has empowered 53 widows and 33 petty traders from Esit Eket Local Government Area, with cash to improve their livelihoods and expand the scope of their businesses.

Speaking at his Business Empowerment Programme on Saturday at Christian Retreat and Event Centre, Akpautung, Esit Eket Local Government Area, Pastor Udi said he was driven by love and passion for the well-being of humanity to share with others the little God had blessed him with, particularly the widows and others going through the vicissitudes of life.

He recalled that as one who experienced hardship while growing up, he was therefore, bound by that experience and much more, deep understanding of God’s favour upon his life to reach out to others in need of a hand to climb to their heights.

Pastor Udi, who believed that his mission was ordained by God to ameliorate the sufferings of humanity within his circle of influence, and in Esit Eket in particular, urged all the beneficiaries to utilize the money judiciously, and grow to become individuals who would in turn render financial assistance to others in future.

The Director General, In Due Season Organisation, Pastor Owoidogo Ukeme Ekpo, while elaborating on the programme, said the latest business empowerment was the fourth in the series since it was instituted by Pastor Eseme Udi sometime ago.

He disclosed that the programme, done on quarterly basis, had so far empowered over 500 widows, petty traders and other disadvantaged individuals across the 11 wards in Esit Eket to either start up businesses, or boost the existing ones.

The Director General, who disclosed that the day’s empowerment was a carryover of the one that could have taken place last December, expressed optimism that the first in the series this year would kick- off sometime in April.

” This very empowerment is the fourth in the series, and I want to say that over 500 widows and petty traders have received business grants since we started”.

In his goodwill message, chairman of the occasion, Pastor Koffi Esentia, applauded the gestures shown by Pastor Udi, believing that his magnanimity towards widows and traders generally must have stemmed from his love for God and a heart of gold towards humanity.

He however bemoaned other well-to-do individuals of Esit Eket extraction whom God had blessed, but would not extend a hand to assist those in need, describing such attitude as selfish and unacceptable.

There were other goodwill messages, all commending the founder, In Due Season Organisation for regularly touching lives, not as someone occupying a political office, but as a private citizen in love with his people.

Speaking to journalists at the end of the event, some of the beneficiaries expressed appreciation to Pastor Eseme Udi, his organisation and team members for consistently empowering them with start- ups and business-booster funds.

Mrs. Udeme Godwin, who runs a provision shop, said it was the business grant given to her in one of the series that she used to start up the business.

While expressing delight for benefitting the second time, Mrs. Godwin assured that the cash would not only assist in boosting her business, but would also directly provide food to her children.

” I’m so happy for being among the beneficiaries of today’s business empowerment programme. Actually, this is my second time of receiving money from In Due Season Organisation, even though Pastor Eseme Udi doesn’t know me”.

Mrs. Aya Asuquo, a widow who said her late husband left behind, eight children for her to cater for, thanked Pastor Udi for coming at such a time like this to take off her burden.

She therefore, prayed for God’s blessings and protection upon the life of the organisation’s founder, his family and others who had assisted to ensure proper coordination of the the programme.

Highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of business grants to all the beneficiaries.

The event had in attendance,  community leader, Chief Udo Awak, Mr. Tom Ekpenekong, Mr. Eno Mba, Chief Obong Otu, youths, among others.