In a proactive move, the Nasarawa State Government has empowered over 75 less privileged men and women selected from Nasarawa North Senatorial district with business grants of N250,000 each.
The State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, who performed the flagging off the distribution of the funds ceremony to the beneficiaries in Akwanga local government area of the state, explained that the gesture will strengthen small businesses, improve traders access to capital and stimulate grassroots economic growth across Nasarawa North Senatorial district.
The Governor, who appreciated the NSUBEB chairman Kassim Muhammad-Kassim for giving back to the society, urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds by starting up a petty business and pray that the money grow from N250,000 to N250 million.
Sule revealed that, this is about the highest empowerment programme he has seen so far where each person benefited N250,000 adding that even him as the Governor gave only about 15,000 each, the federal government through the Renewed Hope Initiative gave 50,000 each, and thank Dr Kassim for such a wonderful gesture.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman, Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB), Dr. Kassim Muhammed-Kassim, explained that he did not know any of the beneficiaries personally and urged them to start up a business with the money, noting that the money is not meant for campaign and the selection is not done on party membership.
He, however, maintained that the proceeds of selling cloths to school in Ghana, nothing that if he can make it, then others can also make it with this financial assistance.
The NSUBEB chairman said the gesture is designed to provide direct support to the less privileged members of the society who do not have any means of livelihood to start up a business to cushion the effect of prevailing economic challenges.
He then urged all the beneficiaries to invest the funds wisely so they can grow their business and create greater prosperity for their families.
He, therefore, promised the gathering that, in no distant time, he will embark on another empowerment programme of 50,000 each to 300 people selected from Wamba, Akwanga and Nasarawa Eggon LGAs.
Some of the beneficiaries, Usman Mohammed, Peter Joe and Ahmed Usuf who spoke with our correspondent commended that the NSUBEB chairman for remembering the downtrodden and pray to God to continue to bless him, promising to use the money for the purpose it’s meant for.
Umar Muhammed
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