Abakliki — More than 150 indigent women, made largely of widows, have benefited from soft loans offered by Ishielu East Local Government Area in order to help women start small scale businesses.

This was made known by chairman of the local government area, Hon. Joseph Nomeh when he briefed newsmen who toured the council area on yesterday.

Nomeh said the greatest problem that faced the council was poverty and explained that the main objective of the council was how to enhance the economic well-being of the people of the local government area by providing them with the opportunity to improve themselves and find ways to better their lot.

He disclosed that the first batch of beneficiaries of the loan scheme received N35,000 each and although it was called a loan, the council did not expect that the women would pay back but said it wanted to ensure that the loan was judiciously utilised to start one small business or another.

Nomeh expressed happiness that most of the women had opened businesses with theirs as petty traders and restaurateurs.

He said another batch of 150 women would also receive their loans before the end of the year and noted that if the council helped women to stand on their own economically, they would be able to support their children in their academic pursuit and other endeavours.

The local government chairman also stated that more than 90 percent of the people of the council were subsistent farmers and to promote their efforts and increase their yield, the council had given them fertilisers free and has encouraged them to concentrate on cultivation.

of cassava, which has become a cash crop, so that they would make more money after selling their produce.

To enhance easy evacuation of farm produce, the council has graded access roads in various villages in the local government area so that farmers could now take their crops to bigger markets in Abakaliki and other nearby metropolis for sale.

It was to enhance easy movement that the council decided to repair the major bridge that links the local government and its Onicha counterpart at the cost of N3.5 million.

Nomeh said that he was prompted to repair the bridge, which has claimed five lives, so that people could move easily from one area of the council to other parts of the state.