Abakaliki — Ebonyi Fadama III Coordinating Office yesterday in Abakaliki disbursed a total sum of N9.3 million to 28 Fadama User Groups.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the exercise was conducted by Mrs Josephine Elechi, the wife of the state governor and that 27 widow groups and one group of unemployed youths were the beneficiaries.

Dr. Cletus Nwakpu, the state Project's Coordinator, said that the exercise was the second edition of Elechi's interactive session with Fadama groups, especially widows and other vulnerable groups.

"The first edition held on June 13, 2011, offered us the opportunity to collaborate with Mrs Elechi's Mother and Child Care Initiative, MCCI, in achieving our objectives.

He said:"We disbursed funds to 26 groups comprising of 17 widow groups, five groups of people living with HIV/AIDS and four groups of unemployed youths."

"The exercise recorded huge success as rather than diverting the funds for other purposes, the groups prudently invested them into their chosen sub-projects, most of which have started yielding positive results."

According to the Coordinator, this 2nd edition will also witness the inauguration of sub-projects completed under the project in the state.