…held inter-village football tournament to promote unity
In a bid to boost Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the Idot-Eyin Thomas foundation, a Non-governmental Organization known for its commitment to community development, provided essential tools like sewing machines, set of clippers, sound system, among other items to entrepreneurs to boost their business growth in the area.
The distribution ceremony, held at Government Primary School, Ikot Obio Nko, in Akwa Ibom State on 30th December 2023, had in attendance politicians and entrepreneurs from the area.
Speaking to newsmen at the event, Mr Idot-Eyin Thomas disclosed that his organization whose logo is reaching out to the poor, has been involved in humanitarian services for almost three years now.
“We believe in the potential of local businesses to drive sustainable growth. By providing these empowerment items, we aim to equip entrepreneurs with the tools they need to thrive and contribute to the community,” he stated
Also he said, “We try as much as possible to empower everyone and we’ve been doing this empowerment in different ways, one of them was the inter-schools quiz competition where different schools came together to compete among themselves.
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“We’ve also had other programs that we’ve used to reach out to the disabled ones where we donated wheelchairs and clutches, and other items to assist them.”
Similarly, Thomas hinted that aside donating empowerment items to entrepreneurs and ls privileged people in the area, the organization is committed to also promoting communal unity through inter-village football tournament.
Also speaking about the football tournament plated between the different villages in the Ward 5 and 6 of the area, Thomas noted that ”the whole essence of this tournament is, because football brings unity and not hatred. So I thought it wise to put up this tournament during the festive period to unite the both Wards that is, Ward 5 and 6.”
However, during the football tournament, teams from the different villages competed passionately, displaying skillful maneuvers and strategic gameplay which brought the elimination process down to two villages.
At the final of the tournament, Ikot Abasi Asutan emerged winner after defeating Ikot Enua by a lone goal.
Also Ikot Enua and Ikot Akpabin emerged second and third respectively.
Earlier, a cross-section of politicians from the area who spoke at the ceremony lauded the initiative of the organization and the Founder, Thomas for pushing the limit in rural empowerment and unity.
They unanimously stated that the initiative undertaken by Thomas will not only drive local economy and sustain same but will enhance the ease of doing by the entrepreneurs as well as foster a sense of hope in them.
They however pleaded with the beneficiaries to make good use of the item collected for the purpose which it’s intended and not sell them off, noting that such tendency can discourage people from supporting local SMEs.
Meanwhile, selected beneficiaries of the scheme expressed gratitude to the organization for the support, and shared their optimism about the positive impact the items will have on their businesses.
They noted that the empowerment items would enhance productivity and enable them meet more customer’s needs.
