23/12/2025
๐ผ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐พ๐: ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐.( ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐พ๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐พ๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐พ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐)
Mrs. Nchelem, fondly known in her neighbourhood as Mama Okrikor, is a widow and mother of four children, three boys and a girl. Seven years ago, she lost her husband, leaving her with the sole responsibility of catering for her family.
To survive and provide for her children, Mama Okrikor ventured into petty table trading. With a small wooden table by the roadside, she sells food items such as Tomatoes, pepper, palm oil, crayfish, onions, seasoning cubes, and other basic household condiments, often in very small quantities. This modest trade has been her only means of survival, enabling her to feed her children and pay their school fees.
Whenever I visit a friend who lives on the same street where Mama Okrikor does her business, I could not help but admire her dedication. She is hardworking, consistent, and remarkably friendly. Her way of calling out to customers is warm and inviting, you almost feel compelled to patronize her.
Her commitment to honest labour is inspiring.
Over the weekend, I went to visit my friend, Umejuru. As soon as Mama Okrikor saw me, she ran towards me, shouting excitedly, โ๐ฝ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง! ๐ฝ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง! ๐ฝ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง!โ Startled, I paused and asked, โ๐ผ๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ค๐ง, ๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฃ?โ
Instead of answering immediately, she hugged me tightly and pointed joyfully at her trading table. I turned and was amazed to see that her table was fully stocked, neatly arranged and visibly different from what it used to be.
Curious, I asked her, โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ค๐ง, ๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐ฉ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐จ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ?โ
Beaming with joy, she replied in excitement:
โ๐ฝ๐ง๐ค๐ฉ๐๐๐ง, ๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ค๐ง ๐ค๐! ๐๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ. ๐ผ๐ก๐ก๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ค๐! ๐๐๐ก๐ฅ ๐ข๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ข ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก ๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ก. ๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ โฆ100,000 ๐๐ง๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ฌ๐๐ฎ ๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐๐ฃ ๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐ฎ, 15๐ฉ๐ ๐ฟ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐๐ง 2025. ๐ ๐๐ค๐ก๐ก๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐ค๐ค, ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ฃ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐ค๐ฃ๐๐ฎ ๐ ๐ช๐จ๐ ๐ง๐-๐จ๐ฉ๐ค๐๐ ๐ข๐ฎ ๐๐ช๐จ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ๐จ.โ
She went further to explain that her daily sales, which used to be about โฆ3,000, have now increased significantly.
โNow I dey make between โฆ10,000 and โฆ12,000 daily,โ she said proudly.
โBrother, una do well. Help me thank the Mayor for us.โ
This story clearly shows that what may seem like โsmall moneyโ or a โchicken changeโ to some people can be a powerful starting point for others. For Mama Okrikor, that grant was not just money, it was hope, growth, and a renewed future for her family.
๐๐๐๐พ๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐๐๐ผ๐พ๐
Following the intervention:
โพHer trading table was fully restocked
โพProduct variety and quantity increased
โพCustomer traffic improved significantly
โพDaily sales rose from an average of โฆ3,000 to between โฆ10,000 โ โฆ12,000
โพHousehold income and economic stability improved.
This intervention has positively impacted not just the beneficiary but her entire household, contributing to improved welfare and educational support for her children.
๐๐๐ ๐๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐๐๐๐๐
โพSmall financial interventions can yield significant economic impact at the grassroots level
โพWomen petty traders respond positively to targeted support
โพConsistency, diligence, and access to capital are key drivers of micro-business growth
๐๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ผ๐๐๐ผ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐๐พ๐ผ๐๐
The Mayor, Sir (Hon.) Allwell Ihunda, DSSRS, JP, has emphasized that the empowerment programme will be implemented in phases to ensure broader coverage. Subsequent phases will incorporate youths and men, ensuring inclusive economic development across Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
๐พ๐๐๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐
The Women Economic Empowerment Programme of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area stands as a clear demonstration of purposeful leadership and people-centered governance. What may appear as a modest grant has proven to be a catalyst for sustainable livelihood and economic growth for beneficiaries like Mrs. Nchelem.
Congratulations to the 500 beneficiaries of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Women Economic Empowerment Programme.
Special appreciation to the visionary leadership of Sir (Hon.) Allwell Ihunda, DSSRS, JP, Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, for his commitment to women empowerment and grassroots economic development.
โ๏ธ
๐ฝ๐ค๐ฎ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ ๐,
๐พ๐๐, ๐๐ค๐ง๐ฉ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ค๐ช๐ง๐ฉ ๐พ๐๐ฉ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ผ.
22nd December, 2025.
