The Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, has expressed readiness of the 6th Abia House of Assembly to partner with groups and organisations anywhere in the world whose cardinal objectives include the empowerment of youths, women and the less privileged in the society.

The speaker said this when he played host to the members of Divine Grace Missionary, Houston, Texas, United States of America who paid him a courtesy call in his office in Umuahia.

The group was led by the Founder, Rev (Sister) Edith Onyinyechi Agu. Other members of the group are Rev. Fr. Chinedum Okite, Rev. (Sister) Margret Akeh, Mr. Francis Ihesiaba and Ogbonna Johnson.

In a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Clinton Uba, the statement said; Rev. Sister Agu hails from Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Abia State but based in United States.

The Speaker, while commending the group for their laudable programme aimed at touching the less privileged, especially in the rural areas, assured them that the 6th Abia House of Assembly will partner with them to create enabling environment to achieve successes in their programmes whose aim is to provide life line for youths roaming the streets as to keep them meaningfully busy and away from social vices.

Rt. Hon. Azubuike described youth and women empowerment as a cardinal policy of the Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu led administration as the present government has taken a paradigm shift from what it used to be in the past with the view of driving a sustainable economy based on self-reliant for robust development of the state.

Earlier in her address, the founder of Divine Grace Medical Missionaries, Houston Texas, US; Rev. (Sister) Agu said that the organisation was founded in 2008 to help youths and women. She said their aim is to take young men and women off the streets and help them acquire skills and vocational knowledge while in school.

She said her visit was to seek a hand of partnership with the State House of Assembly in driving home the aims and objectives of the organisation and solicits for the support of the State Government in establishing a micro-finance institution in Nigeria.

In his contribution, the State Co-coordinator, Rev. Fr. Chinedum Okite, disclosed that they have been carrying out 100 % free training of health workers, free medical treatment in four states in Nigeria namely; Abia, Imo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River for the past three years. Rev. Okite said the organisation has concluded plans to build a modern hospital and Skills Acquisition Centre in Isiala Ngwa North LGA of the state.

In her vote of thanks, Rev. (Sister) Margret Akeh congratulated the speaker for his victory at the election and his subsequent elevation as the Speaker of the 6th Assembly. Rev. Sister Akeh commended the speaker for his simplicity, humility and the manner he welcomed them and prayed that every leader should toe the line of seeing himself or herself as a servant of the people as demonstrated by Rt. Hon Azubuike.

•Photo shows Abia Speaker Martins Azubuike with members of the Divine Grace Missionary, USA, during their courtesy call on him in Umuahia.

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