By NWAORGU FAUSTINUS

A crayfish seller and Theatre Arts graduate from the Imo State University, Miss Nneoma Uzoka, has emerged winner of the March 2020 edition of the ‘Help the Hard Worker’ monthly competition organised by a non-governmental organisation, Princewill’s Trust for entrepreneurs, youths and Rivers residents who are engaged in micro-business ventures and all forms of hard work in Rivers State.

A statement made available to journalists on Wednesday by Princewill’s Trust titled ‘April Fools Day Message for a March Winner’, explained that unlike many beneficiaries of April Fools jokes, Miss Uzoka, a crayfish seller, is not going to receive mere pranks.

It reads: “Her gift is real and it is the result of hard work, dedication and commitment. We bring to her good tidings and a tiny recognition of her efforts, with a view to encouraging her and many others to follow her footsteps and the footsteps of the others who chose hard work over laziness and a sense of entitlement.

“A transfer has been made direct to her account for N100,000 and she has also acknowledged receipt. We trust that she will use the money well and look forward to her joining other previous ‘Help a Hard Worker’ winners in making progress.

“Today might be April Fools day, but we all must refuse to be fooled into thinking that things just happen. No. We must put in the hard work. That is not true for only contestants of the Help a Hard Worker competition, it’s true for all citizens, especially to citizens of Rivers state.

“Considering what we are going through, I think it is pertinent to use this medium to appeal to every one of us to start the victory march against the COVID-19 virus from within. Each of us must play our part. My health is your health and vice versa. We are all inter-connected.

“What we have learnt from the rest of the world tells us that one person carrying the virus can infect several people before that one person can even display any symptoms. So self isolation, social distancing and very good hygiene makes a very very big difference.

“The best advice from me to you is stay home, avoid going out and lie low unless you have a critical reason not to. Follow the advice of the government and the healthcare professionals and please, please, please, do not gamble with your life. You only have one. What you are looking for outside could kill you or someone close to you.

“Here in Princewill’s Trust, we and the team have had to make changes to our laid down processes to protect our team and the wider community in which we operate. The first is we have had to do electronic transfers and present prizes virtually, so as to protect lives. The second is we will postpone the Help a Hard worker competition until full freedom of movement has been restored. Our inability to fully vet nominees means that it would be impossible to carry on in its current format. We will use this period to refocus on awareness and reorientation with a focus on positive messaging.

“A similar programme to the Help a Hard worker that had already been scheduled to start in April, will go ahead though. It will be called Help a Smart Worker and will be restricted to political allies with exceptionally novel small business ideas. It will be based strictly online so can survive Coronavirus. Whenever its sister programme is restored, they will run alongside each other side by side.”

Miss Uzoka, an indigene of Imo State who sells crayfish in the popular weekly Oil Mill Market and Aluu Boundary Market, was declared the winner, closely followed by Miss Chioma Amuzie and Florence Martins who came in second and third positions respectively in the keenly contested competition which saw over 5,000 contestants vying for the top prize.

Confirming the receipt of an online transfer of the cash prize of N100,000 via a telephone conversation profoundly grateful and excited Nneoma stated that she gives God all the glory for the victory, adding that although she worked seriously hard for it, above all, the grace of God found her and made it possible for her to emerge winner.

The Theatre Arts graduate turned crayfish dealer further noted that she intends to invest the prize money in her business as soon as the whole Covid-19 pandemic blows over.

Miss Uzoka also used the opportunity to call on hard working and enterprising youths in the state to advantage of the platform provided by Princewill’s Trust to apply as they may emerge winners too someday, noting that the Help the Hard worker initiative is real, authentic and transparent.

She prayed God Almighty to reward the founder of Princewill’s Trust abundantly for his love for the down trodden and people of the state and the country at large.

Speaking on behalf of the Princewill’s Trust, Hon. Ikem Anthony congratulated Miss Uzoka while calling on the general public to stay safe and stay at home to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus which is current on the rise in the state.

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