Connak foundation a non-governmental/profit-making organization based in Umuahia the Abia state capital has announced the cancellation of two major end of the year events due to non-approval to hold the events by the state government.
The Chief executive officer to the foundation Mrs Carole Emeka Sunday revealed the above during an annual review and media briefing on Thursday in Umuahia.
She stated that the events including the CONNAK founder’s day and CONNAK Youths Arise (CYA) concert were selected to hold on 25th&26th December 2020 at the Umuahia township stadium.
Sunday, pointed out that the foundation had written formally to the state government seeking approval to hold the events and make use of the outdoor sports complex within the stadium with well-articulated plans to maintain social distancing.
She added that although the foundation had received an official approval letter for the use of the stadium, it had yet to receive an official letter from the state government conveying approval to hold the events.
According to a statement by the CEO, “In considering of this delay and due to lack of adequate time to properly put things in place, our sponsors have requested that we reconsider holding both the Founders’ day and CYA events.
“Consequently, we decided to cancel both Founders’ Day and CONNAK Youth Arise in events for the year 2020.
“We acknowledge the disappointment Abia youths, Abians and non Abians must feel at the cancellation of these much-anticipated events and regret any inconvenience caused in this regard. We crave your understanding and promise to hold these events in a bigger and better way in the year 2021”.
Sunday, equally revealed that the foundation which started in the year 2012 had worked committedly to improve the lives and well-being of people in Abia State.
She stated that the foundation uses its strategy to achieve economic empowerment by engaging children, youths and women in capacity building programs such as educational development, ICT training, entrepreneurship development as well as vocational training and skill acquisition.
She stated, “Our goal is to create opportunities for value addition and end the poverty cycle in our communities.
“In the past eight years, the foundation has broadened its scope and widened its reach to more people.
“What started as a full scholarship program to ten indigent children has now grown to a level where we train over 400 graduates yearly in ICT.
“We also sponsor 152 students with a full scholarship at secondary and tertiary education level, nurture start-up businesses and provide funds to support existing businesses statewide”.
