By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Obosi town in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State was on Saturday thrown into jubilant mood as former Minister of Aviation, Chief Osita Chidoka commenced support to small businesses in the community.
Over one hundred petty traders benefited from the business grant which was presented to the market women by wife of the former minister, Barr. Chidinma Chidoka.
Chief Chidoka had during his mother’s burial in May 2023 promised to set up a business support fund in the memory of Late Deaconess Victoria Nneka Chidoka to assist petty traders who are women.
Recall that Chidoka had before his mother’s burial organized a free Cervical Cancer screening and medical care tagged Nneka Chidoka Outreach Program in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Goverment Area and Obosi in Idemili North Local Goverment Area.
Over one thousand patients received treatment for various illnesses including malaria, diabetes and so on, prescription glasses were also given to over three hundred patients.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with journalists thanked the former Minister of Aviation, who was also the former Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for his uncommon philanthropic gesture.
A beneficiary, Mrs Alice Mbara who spoke amid tears of joy thanked Chief Chidoka for his intervention.
Mrs Mbara who is a watermelon and orange hawker in the market noted that she makes little or no profit from the business to afford one good meal for her children daily, a situation that forced her to engaged her 12 years old son in the orange hawking business all in a bid to feed.
Adding that the business grant will enable her pay for a stand in the market, expand her business and stop her teenage son from hawking.
