Keke Owners and Riders Cooperative Society in Akwa Ibom has empowered 30 of its members with brand new Tricycles in a move to empower their members to be independent and to advance their businesses.
Addressing beneficiaries in Uyo yesterday, the President of the association, Comrade Jeremiah Jackson said the scheme was designed help members cope with daily challenges of their operations.
“Today, over 30 tricycles have been given out under keke owners and riders cooperative. Last year, we gave out 50 Tricycles. We thank God for the grace and growth of the scheme.”Jackson said.
The President appealed to beneficiaries of the empowerment to make good use of the opportunity and promptly make their contributions to the cooperative to enable others also benefit from the arrangement.
He stressed the need for honesty and transparency in compliance with the terms and conditions of the cooperative in ensuring prompt payment of their contributions, adding that the tricycles have security mechanism installed in them as those who choose to run away with it would be caught.
He encouraged Tricycle owners and riders to be part of the various schemes created by the Association so as to know areas they could benefit from.
“Don’t just be a member by stickers on your tricycle, seek to know how the scheme could be of benefit to you. We have saving scheme, financial assistance scheme, contribution scheme and the empowerment scheme.” He said.
He however listed some of the challenges faced by members of the association in their daily operations to include robbery, theft of their tricycle, harrassment by security personnel, accident, and multiple taxation from operators of the national union of road transport workers.
“NURTW impounds our members’ Tricycles, particularly those who come from Ikot Ekpene, asking them to buy emblem and tickets against the state approved unified ticket. The operation of an unknown taskforce impounding our members Tricycles at Ikot Ekpene motor park is illegal and not known to the state government.” He said
On his part, the state Commissioner for Transport Hon. Uno Etim Uno commended the Keke Owners and Riders Association (KORA) for their unwavering commitment and support in alleviating poverty among their members in the state.
Uno said the Initiative by KORA was in line with the vision of the state government at alleviating poverty and uplift the standards of living of Akwa Ibom people through its numerous policies and programmes.
