Ikwuano, Abia State| October 6, 2026 —
The Executive Mayor of Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Dr. Anthony N. Nwaubani, FCA, FCIB, has continued his grassroots economic empowerment drive with another edition of the Monthly Active Poor Support Programme (MAP-SP), providing monetary support to 12 small-scale entrepreneurs drawn from communities across the local government.
The beneficiaries were received by the Mayor at his office, where he presented them with financial support to augment the capital of their existing businesses. They were also given an amount for transportation, a gesture designed to ensure that the recipients would not have to deduct part of their business support money to cover transportation expenses incurred in attending the presentation.
The intervention however, is part of Nwaubani’s personal initiative aimed at strengthening the economic capacity of grassroots entrepreneurs and supporting residents who are already engaged in legitimate small-scale commercial activities.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Nwaubani explained that the programme was conceived as a business support intervention rather than a conventional handout. He said the financial assistance was intended to enable beneficiaries to inject additional capital into their businesses, improve their operations and gradually expand their economic activities.
The Mayor said the initiative was particularly targeted at serious-minded grassroots entrepreneurs who had demonstrated commitment to their respective businesses and possessed the knowledge and capacity to sustain them. According to him, the objective is to identify people who are already doing something productive and provide them with a modest financial boost capable of strengthening what they have already built.
Dr Nwaubani encouraged the beneficiaries to deploy the support judiciously and remain diligent in their respective businesses. Quoting Proverbs 22:29, he reminded them of the biblical injunction: “Have you seen a man diligent in his work? He will stand before kings.” He stressed that diligence, discipline and prudent management of even limited resources could ultimately translate into remarkable growth and recognition.
The Mayor further urged the beneficiaries not to underestimate the value of the support they had received, noting that consistent commitment to their businesses could enable them to progress from small-scale operators into more successful entrepreneurs. He expressed optimism that if they remained focused and managed the funds wisely, their businesses would grow to the point where their products and services would attract wider patronage.
According to Nwaubani, his administration is committed to reaching as many small-scale grassroots entrepreneurs as possible through the empowerment programme. He noted that the intervention deliberately focuses on people with existing businesses, with the financial support serving as additional capital rather than a substitute for personal effort.
He explained that the selection process was carefully undertaken to identify serious and committed businesswomen and entrepreneurs who understood their trades and demonstrated the willingness to use the assistance productively. He added that the initiative was particularly dear to his heart because it represents a personal commitment to improving the economic well-being of ordinary residents at the grassroots.
The broad distribution, he said, was intended to ensure that the intervention continued to have a grassroots reach across different communities.
Praying for the beneficiaries, the Mayor expressed confidence that the modest assistance would yield significant results in their lives and businesses. He prayed that the resources given to them would be like the biblical mustard seed, growing and multiplying into something much greater than its initial size.
The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the Mayor for the intervention, acknowledging the importance of the support to their businesses and livelihood. They were encouraged to regard the financial assistance as a catalyst for greater productivity and to remain committed to building sustainable enterprises.
Officials present during the presentation included HoS Mrs. Ola Comfort Onyeabor and Chidiebere Isaac Roland, the Treasurer of the Council, alongside other officials and associates of the Mayor.
The latest intervention further displays Nwaubani’s emerging approach to grassroots governance, which combines public administration with practical economic support for residents. Through the Active Poor Support Programme, the Ikwuano Mayor is seeking to demonstrate that even modest, targeted interventions can strengthen household incomes, sustain micro-enterprises and create a foundation for broader economic inclusion at the grassroots.