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.
