Empowering Women: UJA Family Foundation Prepares To Support Constituents Following Needs Assessment

The member representing Isoko North and South Federal Constituency, Rep. Ajirioghene Jonathan Ukodhiko, in collaboration with UJA FAMILY FOUNDATION, has launched a pilot scheme of one of his numerous poverty alleviation programmes tagged “Gender-Based Economic Empowerment Programme” for existing and aspiring entrepreneurs.

The programme, which was launched on August 2, 2024, at his Erawha-Owhe Country Home, saw the first set of prospective beneficiaries undergoing rigorous Needs Assessment and preparedness interview ahead of the disbursement of funds, which will see existing and aspiring entrepreneurs receive between N300,000 to N500,000 naira as either business support grant to boost their already existing businesses or as a startup grant for setting up new businesses.

The Need Assessment and Preparedness Evaluation was carried out by a team of entrepreneurial experts headed by Emmanuel Ogheneochuko Igbigbisie, Ph.D.

A total of twenty-seven (27) participants drawn from various Isoko communities participated in the need assessment/preparedness exercise.

Through a one-on-one session, participants were posed with series of questions designed to gauge their business savvy, including their motivations for entrepreneurship, market analysis, and unique selling points.

Additionally, they were tasked with SWOT analysis exercise to identify areas of strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat.

The founder of UJA FAMILY FOUNDATION, Hon. Ajirioghene Jonathan Ukodhiko, has made available a substantial sum of money to support this pilot scheme, and 20 deserving entrepreneurs will be eventually selected based on their performance from the need assessment and preparedness evaluation report.

The scheme will be continuous in order to create young entrepreneurs and millionaires within the shortest possible time.

The pilot scheme, when successful, will open bigger frontiers for constituents who are desirous of upscaling their medium- or small-scale businesses or aspiring to start a business venture.

The Foundation looks at setting up an entrepreneurial apprenticeship model where desiring constituents who want to be financially independent will learn the basic rudiments of trade and will set up businesses for them to thrive, thereby making them financially independent and creating jobs for our people.

The initiative aligns with Rep. Ukodhiko’s campaign promise of fostering economic growth and human capital development in his constituency.