Stella Okotete, the Executive Director, Business Development of NEXIM Bank, has promised to provide shelter for widows in all communities in Agbarho Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
She also promised to lay the foundation of a cassava processing factory in Agbarho kingdom with the capacity to create 1,500 jobs, saying, “by doing this, we will be able to make a positive impact on our people.”
Okotete, who made the promise during her birthday anniversary celebration at the Urhobo Progress Union UPU, cultural centre, Ugiamughe-Agbarho, said the event was to give thanks to God for His grace upon her life and also to put smiles on the faces of widows in the Agbarho kingdom.
She said: “As part of saying thank you to God. I, with the support of my friends, have decided to build 10 widows’ quarters in each of the Agbarho communities. The reason why I’m doing this is that the Bible said that, when you take care of the widows, God will be happy and He in His adequate wisdom will reward you in return.
“And as an orphan, the best I can do to support these widows who don’t have shelter is to provide shelter for them. So in the next five to six years, we are going to build 10 widows’ houses in each of the Agbarho communities. We have contacted all the Presidents in each of these communities to give us a space to build these houses.
“Also today, we have a package for 1,000 widows. You are going home with a seed grant and other gift items. We will do phase one today. Next month, when I come we will do phase two. Every month, we will continue to empower our widows with seed grants and capital to start up businesses to enable them cater for their children and themselves.
“I want to say a special thank you to the following persons who have stood behind me through thick and thin, most especially Chief Ayiri Emami who after my graduation from the University employed me as his personal assistant and also through that position gave me the opportunity to grow my political career.
“I also say a big thank you to the former Governors of Delta State, my Daddy, Chief James Ibori, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, and my big Uncles since I joined the APC, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
“I also commend the Finance Minister of Nigeria and CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele who facilitated my reappointment.
In his remarks, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, who was represented by the member representing Ughelli North, South and Udu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rev Francis Waive commended Okotete for taking the birthday celebration to Urhobo land.
