The Mayor of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area (PHALGA), Sir (Hon.) Allwell Ihunda, DSSRS, JP, on Monday, 15 December 2025, disbursed business grants of N100,000 each to 500 women selected from the 20 wards of the local government area. The initiative targets small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and marks the first phase of the administration’s empowerment programme, organised as part of activities to commemorate the Mayor’s first 100 days in office.
The empowerment and disbursement ceremony brought together beneficiaries, political leaders, and stakeholders. Speaking at the event, the Mayor said the grants fulfilled a campaign promise and reflected a deliberate effort to strengthen women-owned businesses while improving household livelihoods across Port Harcourt City.
“The essence of this gathering is to support your business. We want to empower you so that we can empower your business and empower your family as well,” he said.
Sir Allwell Ihunda recalled that in the previous year, his administration implemented skills acquisition and entrepreneurship programmes that trained over 1,300 beneficiaries, with women forming the majority. He said participants received training in catering and bakery, tailoring, gele-tying, makeup artistry, cosmetology, photography, soap and air-freshener production, and other income-generating skills aimed at improving self-reliance.
Sharing a personal experience, the Mayor narrated how the programme had changed lives. “One day, a woman walked into my office with products she made herself. She told me that through our training programme, she was now able to support her family and paying her children’s school fees. I was proud, happy, and fulfilled,” he said.
He explained that the current financial grants were designed to help women scale existing businesses and urged beneficiaries to invest the funds wisely, noting that timely capital can make a difference when well managed.
The Mayor announced that the women-focused grants represent the first phase of a broader empowerment drive. He said subsequent phases would extend support to youths and men across the local government area, assuring residents who were not selected in this batch that additional phases would follow.
“Nothing is too small to start or support a business. What matters is how you manage the money and how you manage your business. We carefully selected beneficiaries from all 20 wards. Those who did not benefit this time should not worry, the next phase is coming very soon,” he assured.
Sir Ihunda said women were prioritised because of their role as caregivers within families. He noted that empowering women strengthens families and communities, adding that each beneficiary received a 10kg bag of rice.
Beyond the empowerment programme, the Mayor outlined achievements recorded within his first 100 days in office. He cited the ongoing renovation of Township Model Primary School and Iche Akarolo Model Primary School, previously vandalised by criminals. He also disclosed that drainages were being desilted across flood-prone areas to reduce flooding ahead of the rainy season, alongside progress in furnishing the newly built council office complex.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Engr. Solomon Ejike Ogbonna, commended the Mayor for initiating what he described as an unprecedented women empowerment programme. He said the initiative demonstrated purposeful and compassionate leadership, adding that “when righteous leaders govern, the people rejoice,” and assured beneficiaries that subsequent phases would follow.
Also delivering a goodwill message, Hon. Inime Aguma, former Commissioner for Women Affairs, praised the Mayor for prioritising women empowerment and urged him to expand the initiative.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Linda Amadi-Oparaeli expressed gratitude to the Mayor for the financial support and the business management lecture delivered by the resource person, Mrs Amara Dike. She assured that the funds would be judiciously utilised to grow their businesses. The event also attracted goodwill messages from political leaders and stakeholders across Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
