In a bold step towards rebuilding lives and restoring dignity, the Enugu State Government, in partnership with Custos Care Foundation (CCF), on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, graduated and empowered 300 victims of herdsmen attacks after a 10-day intensive training in food processing and packaging. The graduation and empowerment ceremony held at Mgbuji-Ehe Civic Hall, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, was attended by community leaders, government officials, and beneficiaries from Ihenyi-Agarama, Abo-Isiala, and Mgbuji communities in Eha-Amufu.

 

The event commenced with opening prayers and the national anthem, followed by a welcome address from the Executive Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA, Hon. Obiora Obeagu, represented by his wife, Hon. Mrs. Onyeyechi Obeagu. She praised Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for his developmental strides in Enugu and Isi-Uzo communities, while appreciating the First Lady of Enugu State, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, and the Ministry of Human Development and Poverty Eradication for their support. She urged the beneficiaries to maximize the knowledge and equipment provided to transform their lives and communities.

 

Community leaders, including Hon. Ede Chukwuemeka Sunny, Comrade Paul Edeh, Chief David Egbogu, and others, expressed delight at the initiative and welcomed the presence of the governor’s office, the First Lady’s office, and the ministry officials.

 

Delivering her keynote address, the Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication, Prof. Benedette Ekwutosi Okoli, described the empowerment as a tool of transformation. “What you hold now is not just equipment but a tool of hope and dignity,” she told the beneficiaries. She further commended Governor Mbah’s compassion and assured that the ministry would continue to monitor the progress of the trainees while creating more platforms for empowerment.

 

Her Excellency, Mrs. Nkechinyere Mbah, represented by Prof. Okoli, in her goodwill message, described the program as a liberating tool for self-reliance and dignity restoration. She encouraged the beneficiaries to remain focused, stressing that “today is not the end but the beginning.”

 

The Managing Director of Custos Care Foundation, Comrade Egodi Blessing Igwe, urged the beneficiaries to resist the temptation of selling their equipment, emphasizing that productivity would bring further development. She revealed that CCF would expand its empowerment programs into tailoring, leather works, and solar installations in the near future.

 

Also speaking, the trainer, Miss Princess Vivian Agbo-Anike, shared her experiences during the training, noting language barriers and environmental challenges. She explained that a WhatsApp group had been created to monitor beneficiaries’ progress.

 

Some of the beneficiaries, including Nobel Monday and Ogenyi Helen, expressed gratitude to the government and CCF for the life-changing opportunity and commended their trainer for her patience and humility.

 

As part of the empowerment, the three participating communities received vital food processing machines, including heat guns, sealers, and weighing scales. The initiative, which commenced on August 12, 2025, lasted 10 days and was designed to prepare the participants to access both local and international markets.

 

Other dignitaries present included HRH Igwe Phiniman Obeagu, Hon. Mrs. Patricia Odo, Mba Shedrack, Ogenyi Maxwell Chukwuebuka, Princess Ogechi Odo, and Ngozi Anagbo, among others.

 

The empowerment of 300 herdsmen attack victims in Eha-Amufu stands as a landmark achievement in Enugu State’s pursuit of inclusive growth and human development. Beyond the provision of skills and machines, the initiative represents renewed hope for communities ravaged by violence, reaffirming the government’s commitment to turning victims into victors and fostering sustainable livelihoods.