The Onicha-Olona modern market, built by the Aniocha North local government some 20 years ago, but could not be put to use due to difficulty in accessing it, has been rehabilitated, expanded and put to use.
The market, which resumed daily trading activities on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, was rehabilitated by a Non Governmental Organisation, Doris Amaka Ochei (DAO) Foundation and commissioned on Monday by the Chairman of the Aniocha North local government, Mr Kelvin Okwechime.
Okwechime, who was represented by the Secretary to the Local Government, SLG, Mr Kennedy Okoh, commended the Doris Amaka Ochei Foundation for its vision to reopen the market after two decades of abandonment.
The Council Chairman, who also commended the Onicha-Olona community for partnering with the NGO to achieve the feat, said the project exemplified the concept of Public-Private Partnership and self help in community development, noting that the market had the potential to engender a wide range of economic activities that would make life more meaningful to the people of the area.
He said the strategic location of Onicha-Olona had positioned it as a transit community and a commercial hub for its neighboring communities and urged market men and women in and around the area to acquire stalls in the market to ply their trades and enhance their economic well-being.
Okwechime pointed out that market management and maintenance were constitutional responsibilities of the Local Government, disclosing that the Council would liaise with the community to allocate the stalls to interested persons, while commending the Onicha-Olona Development Union for its interest in the community through self-help.
In his remarks, the President General of the Onicha-Olona Development Union, Sir Patrick Ejidoh, thanked Dr (Mrs) Doris Amaka Ochei and her husband, Maj. Gen Raymond Ochei, for their interest in the development of the community, describing the commissioning of the market as a fulfilment of their promise to get it ready for use by Easter.
The PG recalled that the market was constructed in 2003, by the Callistus Nwawolo Local Government administration, but had to be abandoned by traders due to bad access road and difficult terrain, stressing that it was a mark of patriotism for the Doris Amaka Ochei (DAO) Foundation to undertake the rehabilitation and expansion of the market after 20 years of being moribund.
Ejidoh commended the contractor for doing a good job, with the water system and conveniences working well, but stated that it was not yet uhuru because a lot still needed to be done in the market, even as he expressed delight that the issue of trading on the road had been addressed by the commissioning of the project.
He said allocation of stalls in the market would be by ballot, as all former allocations had been revoked and advised those interested in owning stalls to pay a non refundable fee of N1,000, while revealing that a good spirited individual, Mr Nelson Nwachi, had bought the form for the 87 women in the market.
Earlier at the commissioning and unveiling of the plaque of the market, the Founder and President of DAO Foundation,Dr (Mrs) Doris Amaka Ochei, recalled that the day the Onicha-Olona road was commissioned, she saw the need to rehabilitate the market to make it functional and decided to embark on the project, as part of her contribution to community development, describing the commissioning of the market as a dream come true.
She said DAO Foundation was passionate about uplifting the living standard of the people, especially the women, considering their roles as mothers, wives and home builders, adding that the Foundation found it expedient to empower the women to make them financially capable of supporting their homes to reduce pressure on their husbands.
“You will help to train the children; you will look good for your husband and even come to assist your husband in case he becomes a little bit financially dependent”, Dr. (Mrs) Ochei said.
The DAO President then encouraged the women to immediately begin to put the market to use by moving their wares into the stalls.
According to her, “operating daily market is important. With daily market people will no longer go to Issele-Uku to buy things. It is based on this that we said the 87 market women who are already established as traders in this market, DAO Foundation will support you with N50,000 each as take off grant.
“I encourage you to move into this market immediately. Understand that once this becomes a regular market in Onicha-Olona, it will attract other commercial activities; attract people including those who operate garri business. When they begin to come, they need rented accommodation and so on and so forth.
“That’s why I am asking and pleading with you to move in immediately to commence trading activities”.
She greeted members of the Omu institution, acknowledging that they had a role to play in the running of the market.
Highlight of the event was the cutting of the tape to inaugurate the market, which was done by the Aniocha North Local Government Chairman, Hon Kevin Okwechime represented by the Secretary to the Council, Mr Kennedy Okoh, followed by the unveiling of the plaque by Omu Anioma, Obi Martha Dunkwu, assisted by Dr (Mrs) Ochei, her husband, Major Gen. Ochei and the PG, Mr. Ejidoh.
Omu Anioma, Obi Martha Dunkwu also performed other traditional rites, praying for the good of the market and dancing while acknowledging cheers from the people.
The event, which brought joy to the sleepy community, was attended by HRM Obi Uzu Diji, a former Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, now an Executive Director of NIMASA, Rt. Hon Victor Ochei; the husband of the DAO President, Maj. Gen Raymond Ochei; the Chairman, Delta State Waste Management Board, Emma Bazim Chinye; Omu Anioma, Obi Martha Dunkwu, the clergy, among others
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