A 106-year-old Akara seller, Ma Chidinma Eluwa, has thanked the Abia state Governor, Alex Otti, for placing her on a monthly stipend for her upkeep and boosting her business.
The centenarian who is popular at Owerri road by Isigate area of Umuahia, Abia State capital, said that the assistance from the Abia State government would make her live a normal and enjoying life at these last stages of her life.
She advised the youths to shun crime, focus on their education as well as acquire skills to make society better.
It would be recalled that on July 29th, 2023, the aged trader was spotted at her shop by the Chief of Staff to Abia State governor, Caleb Ajagba while returning from an environmental clean-up inspection on behalf of the governor.
The Chief of staff was attracted by the sight of customers that queued up to buy Mama Eluwa’s delicacy.
On enquiry, the Chief of Staff was told that the aged woman had been in the Akara business for many years which instantly made him to pencil down her name for special government intervention, after having some interactions with her.
The Chief of Staff on return to the government house in Umuahia, recommended his special discovery to the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Alleviation, which took over the matter after carrying out more investigations about Mama Eluwa ‘s history in Akara business.
On 9th August 2023, Mama Chidinma Eluwa was invited to the office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Vulnerable Groups and Poverty Alleviation by Mrs Ifeoma Thomas, the Special Assistant who announced some financial interventions and business sustainability plans for her.
She was captured on National Identity Numbers, NIN system for a bank account to be opened for her for easy deposit of monthly stipends for the aged but resilient trader.
Speaking during the visit, the Special Assistant to Abia State governor on vulnerable groups and poverty alleviation, Mrs Ifeoma Thomas said, “We’re going to place her on a monthly stipend and also open a bank account for her. But first of all, we have gotten the Nigerian Identify Management Agency (NIMC) to capture her and her son in the NIMC register, afterwards, we open an account in her name and her brother will be in the custody of the ATM card.
“With that, we will pay her stipend into the account at the end of every month”.
The Abia State government is also planning to celebrate her next birthday and longevity.
