In its well acclaimed stride of empowering its host communities in its areas of operation, Evomec Global Services Limited (EGSL) has doled out about N6 million as start-up capital and scholarship award to some youths of Bonny Kingdom.

Managing Director of Evomec Global Services Limited (EGSL), Chief Peter Esievo told Kristina Reports that the gesture was in appreciation of the goodwill and hospitality he and his company have continued to receive from Bonny Kingdom, especially, the fatherly disposition of the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, since it started doing business in the island.

He stated that empowering youths to take their destiny in their hands remains a cardinal pillar of Evomec’s corporate policy thrust, stressing that the beneficiaries possess potentials which when properly harnessed can take them far in life.

Esievo further explained that “Bonny Kingdom has been good to us as a company, and the least we can do is to partner with kingdom institutions in driving development, especially human capital development. We saw the proposal by the Bureau to empower those youths as an opportunity to give back to an ancient kingdom that has been good to us”.

He reiterated the sustained commitment of his company to continue building the capacity of the youths through education, employment and other avenues, noting that “when you empower the youths of a community you do more than giving money or paying school fees, you actually empower the community, you help reduce insecurity, you build a knowledge base, you build leaders for the future, and so on”.  

Three young men, who were before this time working as baggage local handlers at the Coal Beach, Bonny, received the sum of N500,000 each to start up any business of their choice. The corporate social responsibility gesture of the company was delivered to the three young men (names withheld) through the Bonny Integrated Recruitment Centre (BIRC) on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 in Bonny.

The company also gave a scholarship award to the tune of about N4 million to two indigenous children of Banigo House, which according to it was in furtherance of its interventions in Education.  

The two children, a boy and a girl, who are students of Starlet Academy, Port Harcourt, got an initial sum of N1,980,000 paid to their school to kickstart the scholarship, which Kristina Reports learnt will run up to a first degree in the university for both of them.

Expressing his gratitude for the gesture, the father of the beneficiaries, who identified himself as Jerry, exclaimed that “It is more than appreciation. If there is any other word more than appreciation, I will use, because normal human beings don’t do things like this. Only a God sent that can do this kind of thing”.

“It is only a God sent that can give such a scholarship to little children. I appreciate him with my whole heart.

When my wife gave me the information it was like a joke not until I saw the message from the school that they have received the money.”

“I was overwhelmed, I could not move. I was shocked to say the least. Please, if you can use any other word more than ‘awesome’, please use it. My wife and I are very grateful to Evomec for this special gesture they have done to us.”

Presenting the funds to the beneficiaries in his office in Bonny on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, Chairman of the BIRC, Dagogo Jumbo, popularly known as ‘Opumingi’, said the gesture was in line with the vision of the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, and the Bonny Local Government Council to empower the people of the area, especially the youths through gainful employment.  

“Let me state that employment is the right of every Bonny person and I am here to ensure that the vision of His Majesty and Natural Ruler of Bonny and the Bonny Local Government Council is achieved by making sure that employment becomes the entitlement of every son and daughter of this Kingdom and LGA.

Opumingi, who emphasized that his administration will sustain its penchant for transparency and accountability in the management of employment related issues in Bonny LGA, disclosed that the three beneficiaries of the Evomec largesse were prior to this luggage handlers at the Coal Beach, Bonny, informing that empowering them in partnership with Evomec was “an act of compassion”.

The BIRC Chairman, who further disclosed that this empowerment was done by Evomec, where the three young were initially shortlisted, due to the intervention of the BIRC, urged the beneficiaries to open bank accounts and lodge the funds given to them while they go and think up areas of business to invest the money, promising to also shortlist for job placement in the shortest possible time.