June 15, (THEWILL) – The May And Frank Akpo Foundation has empowered 20 Small scale businesses and less privileged children in Cross River State.
The empowerment, which is the first batch, is meant to alleviate the plight of the businesses in the wake of the present economic situation.
Founder of the foundation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Arc. (Dr) Eric Akpo, said the aim is to help the businesses stand firm and also provide a shoulder for the less privileged to lean on.
In his words, “We are trying to help young people grow in their individual businesses, in view of the economic situation where businesses have not been standing firm.
“This will provide quick funding for them to continue standing on their own.
“This intervention will help them stabilise their businesses so as to expand.
“This will also help them create employment and also add to the GDP of the state”, he said.
He explained that the foundation, which is two years old, was inspired by the lifetime of his parents.
He said they decided to extend their legacy of embracing so many children and less privileged members of the society as their own.
He said they interacted with so many street children, and found that no one wants to take that responsibility, that’s why they are intervening.
He explained that the loan is not recoverable and beneficiaries who grow their businesses and expand will receive more funds subsequently.
He added that the foundation will soon commission a school and a quota system to accommodate the less privileged children who are intelligent will be employed.
Several youths including a youth corper benefitted from the intervention.
One of the beneficiaries, Olufolami Olaluwa, an electronics dealer, said the intervention will help improve his business.
On her part, Christiana Edet Udofia said she is grateful for the money.
According to her, “the money will add value to my business and enable me to buy more goods”, she said.
The May and Frank Akpo Foundation is a two-year-old foundation and focuses on youth and child development.
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
