The Nation Newspaper

Tag: empowerment

  • Tackling unemployment through empowerment

    The Lagos State Government is creating jobs and reducing poverty through investments in tradesmen and artisans development. DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The Lagos State Government has unveiled a new growth path anchored on investment in infrastructure and skills development.

    The initiative, in collaboration with the private sector and organised labour, hopes to build the capacities of artisans and tradesmen through training.

    Speaking during an interaction with tradesmen and artisans, the Wealth Creation and Employment Commissioner, Mrs Akinbile Yussuf, noted that the government placed emphasis on empowerment as a medium for tackling unemployment.

    She said industrialisation required a focus on job creation and entrepreneurship, and that these were keys to boosting the workforce and sustainable development.

    She added that the shortage of artisans was an obstacle to growth, adding that a capacity building programme for artisans and tradesmen would create jobs and spur  growth.

    She stressed that it was vital that artisans equipped themselves with the skills needed in the marketplace, so they could take advantage of opportunities that would help reduce poverty and spur growth.

    According to Mrs Akinbile, the government is focusing on tradesmen development through  training, apprenticeships and skills programmes. The training will be conducted by qualified  artisans.

    Last year, the Lagos State government launched a compendium of 20,000 registered tradesmen and artisans with unique identification numbers

    The compendium  was designed to  help differentiate the authentic artisans from those operating illegally.

    The  state government also opened an online portal designed to  facilitate interaction amongst artisans, small businesses, customers/end-users and other relevant stakeholders.

  • Bridging SMEs funding gaps with youth empowerment

    Capital is arguably the most important factor needed to drive sustainable growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). COLLINS NWEZE writes that the N30 million grants from Nigerian Breweries shared to some 300 youths through the Goldberg’s Isedowo initiative is expected to stimulate youth-driven SMEs.

    The economies of great nations thrive on the strength and capabilities of their Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the government has the responsibility to make the environment conducive for operators.

    Besides the government, private sector operators play a role in the development and growth of SMEs by making credit facilities accessible to operators.

    Golbally, development patterns show the primacy and pre-eminence of the SMEs in resource mobilisation, deployment of resources for growth and development, and the emergence of an industrial economy.

    In Asia, Europe and North America for instance, SMEs play significant roles in the growth, development and industrialisation of their economies.

    The same cannot be said of Nigeria as SMEs have performed below expectation because of a plethora of factors including lack of access to funds, managerial skills and poor accounting practice, among others.

    The local economic managers and the citizens have realised that modern economies survive not on the account of the number of jobs created by the formal sector but on the strength of the ‘street economy’ (informal sector).  The stunning figures of the Asian Tigers, like most top-performing economies, are driven by cottage industries and other small-scale enterprises, making them a model to other nations that are struggling to get out of socio-economic deprivations.

    Economists have called for initiatives that can help job hunters explore their entrepreneurial potential, create wealth and generate the needed jobs to combat youth restiveness.

    However, a lot must be done on the grey areas in key factors required to engender a small-scale-driven economy.

    The government, that is expected to provide the needed infrastructure and technical capacity frameworks, funding, has more than enough to shoulder, hence the need for blue chip companies and multinationals to come to the rescue.

    The commercial banks, with their lack of disposition to lift start-ups, particularly in the informal businesses, have not helped matters.

    With venture capital not available, fund seekers are left with no options but to adopt self-help and when this fails as it often does, it is back to square one.

    Some private sector operators have realised the folly of allowing the ills of idleness to linger. They believe the idle hands could serve as the devils workshop. They are now creating platforms through which they extend financial assistance to individuals with brilliant ideas.

    One of such platforms that has impacted a sizeable number of individuals in its target group is Isedowo, an empowerment initiative of Goldberg, a brand of the Nigerian Breweries Plc.

    It was unveiled in Ile-Ife, and ancient Osun State community last August to empower Southwest youths who have creative business plans.

    At the end of the first phase of the programme on February 9, the brand had given a grant of N300, 000 each to 100 artisans spread across the Southwest states excluding Lagos.

    The N30 million was disbursed to youths to sharpen their skills in cloth-making, photography, carpentry, hair dressing, catering, dry cleaning and sundry vocations.

    Ile-Ife monarch Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, acknowledged that the Isedowo concept was in line with the aspirations of the greater number of youths and called on other corporate entities to follow the Goldberg lead. Commending Nigerian Breweries and Goldberg for damning all odds to empower artisans, the Ooni of Ife described the initiative as courageous and innovative.

    He said: “On behalf of my people, I thank Goldberg and Nigerian Breweries for partnering with the Yoruba people. By leading the way to support the businesses and entrepreneurial potential of artisans in the Southwest, the company has challenged other corporate bodies to give back to the society where they operate.”

    The royal father urged beneficiaries to seize the opportunity to grow their businesses and contribute their quota to lift the economy of the region.

    According to him, the initiative was a demonstration of the brand’s interest in the wellbeing of the region as well as the economic growth of the country.

    At the opening, Nigerian Breweries’ Marketing Director Franco Maria Maggi, said Goldberg was honoured to identify with the Ooni through Isedowo, noting that the empowerment has offered an opportunity for the brand and the royal father – who is the custodian of the Yoruba culture – to partner on improving the economic status of youths in the region.

    Maggi stated: “We believe that as the custodian of the Yoruba culture, the Ooni’s blessings will rub off positively on Isedowo. It will set it on a path of achieving the objectives of positively transforming the lives of its beneficiaries with spillover effects on the larger economy through increased job opportunities and wealth creation.”

    According to Portfolio Manager of Mainstream Lager & Stout Brands, Emmanuel Agu, Goldberg, through Isedowo, has demonstrated its commitment to improving the businesses of artisans in the Southwest.

    Recognising that start-up and expansion capital has been the bane of artisanship in the region, he restated Goldberg’s commitment to supporting those who are interested in using their skills to grow the economy.

    Agu said: “So far, Isedowo has also reduced the rate of unemployment and youth restiveness in the region as the grants have created new jobs in the Southwest. Goldberg would, through the scheme, extend its affinity with the people of Southwest beyond culture and tradition to entrepreneurship. It has positioned itself as an empowerment platform that shares the aspirations of the people.”

    At one of the activations, Senior Brand Manager, Mainstream Brands, Nigerian Breweries, Funso Ayeni, described Isedowo as Goldberg’s vehicle to connect and support the region’s entrepreneurship.

    He stressed that the brand, through the scheme, has positioned itself as an empowerment platform that genuinely shares the aspirations of its consumers.

    Ayeni said: “Goldberg has long established itself as a dependable partner with the Yoruba cultural community. With Isedowo, the brand has extended its affinity with the people to entrepreneurship.

    “Through the platforms, artisans with outstanding business ideas are being empowered. This will not only boost the economy of the region, it will also curb youth restiveness, as more young men and women are positively engaged.”

    For a society that is battling restiveness, Isedowo comes in handy. And barely six months after the first set of beneficiaries received their cheques, there are dozens of testimonies to the transformative power of the scheme. In many cases, businesses that existed only in a dream world have assumed physical form, creating wealth for owners while generating incomes for their employees.

    An Osun State-based auto-mechanic, Yakub Adbulazeez, who benefited from the scheme, said he bought essential tools and expanded his spare parts business with the grant.

    He added that the assistance has made him more useful to the society as according to him, the era of idleness had disappeared because of the expansion.

    He stated: “Before I was given the grant, there were days I would go out to hang out with friends from morning till evening. Sometimes, I would not go to the shop for three days. Meanwhile, I knew of some things I could do to make money but there was no capital. I wanted to go into sales of spare parts but nobody was willing to lend me money.

    “So, I saw the Goldberg grant as a ‘saviour’. My story changed when I got the grant. First, I bought the essential tools I need for my jobs. Today, I don’t share tools with anybody anymore. Besides, I have added spare parts sale to my business and employed two people.”

    Another beneficiary, Ayodele Adebalogun, said Isedowo saved him from the daunting struggle in raising capital. The aluminium fabricator added that after buying a new cutting machine, he has been able to support his wife’s catering business.

    Adebalogun said: “The grant was a life-saving for me and my wife. Both of us are doing fairly because of the grant. I now make more money as a result of the new cutting machine I acquired with the fund.

    “My wife’s business has also expanded owing to the support she received from the money. Today, we make more profit which we plough back into our businesses. Life has not been the same since we came in contact with Isedowo.”

    Kayode Omoyeba, a carpenter, said: “l commend Goldberg and Nigerian Breweries for the empowerment scheme which will go a long way in enhancing my business. I have been thinking of how to buy work tools for a while. So, Goldberg has relieved me of that burden. I am now happier man, and this initiative is worth emulating.”

    Ojo Adeosun, a fashion designer from Ekiti State, said he bought a sewing machine to expand his business with the grant. According to him, he also started selling fabrics having employed three apprentices.

  • Restoration: Celebrating six years of robust youth empowerment

    An x-ray of the youth-friendly policies and programmes of the Restoration Administration would clearly distinguish Governor Seriake Dickson as MR. YOUTH.  His passion about developing the youths is unparalleled in the history of Bayelsa politics. No official pronouncement, statement or action is complete without a mention of the youths as leaders of today (not tomorrow) as some people may want people to believe. The passion and enthusiasm emanated from the fact that the youths hold the key to tomorrow therefore society grows and ultimately develops when youths deploy their energies into productive use.  About 65.7% of Bayelsa Population is youthful.

    Again, the Governor’s zeal for youth empowerment is in keeping with his inaugural address. In Governor Dickson’s inaugural address, he asserted thus: “We will invest in the development of other aspects of human capacity for our teeming youths, such that they will be able to unleash their creative capacities as well as enhance their drive for entrepreneurship”. In his address to mark the 16th year anniversary of the creation of Bayelsa State, Governor Dickson emphasized that: ” Government will use the resources of this State to fund critical projects such as the construction of good roads, education, health facilities, promote tourism, general wealth and develop agriculture, rather than use it to fund the corruption and greed of a few”  These two epochal addresses underscored the fact that investing in youths is the solar-plexus and thrust of his administration.

    Youth Empowerment is a process where young people are encouraged to take charge of their lives. They do this by addressing their situation and then take action in order to improve their access to resources and transform their consciousness through their beliefs, values, and attitudes.  The overarching aim of Youth empowerment is to improve the quality of life. In the Restoration Administration, youth development is taken holistically.

    In its holistic sense, youth empowerment connotes providing young people with abilities, skills and competencies that can enable them manipulate economic processes. Youth development has become so relevant in our society that even partisan observers hold the view that the Restoration Administration is the most youth-friendly administration since the creation of Bayelsa State. This is true in the light of pragmatic steps taken by the Restoration Administration. We can understand why for the first time, Governor Dickson established a separate Ministry of Youth Development at the beginning his administration. The Ministry was established specially to cater for the need of youths with a view to improving their wellbeing in terms of job creation, wealth creation, skills acquisition and poverty alleviation.

    Government hit the ground running by collating database of existing manpower by the Ministry of Manpower Development and that of Youth Development. The data base provides robust opportunity for government to identify training needs; manpower gaps and how to fill such gaps by enabling government to build the capacity of youths for gainful employment or self-employment.

    It was for this reason that the Ministry of youth Development mounted several capacity building programmes in technical and vocational skills, which included: Computer Technology; Welding; Auto mechanics; Electrical works; Plumbing and fitting; Hairdressing and Baking etc. By the end of these training programmes, some starter packs were given to participants.

    In the Ministry of Agriculture and natural resources, hundreds of youths have been sent to the Songhai farms in the Republic of Benin on training in mechanized agriculture. The products of this programme will provide much-needed manpower in the State’s effort to leverage job creation through agriculture. These trainees work in the agricultural enterprises established by the State Government in cassava cultivation, aquaculture, and tailoring and computer science.

    Expansion of the Scholarship Scheme at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The effort is designed to assist youths to acquire education at the tertiary level and to build up a formidable stock of human capital in critical areas of the economy. About 789 persons benefited from the scheme in the 2012/13 academic year and payments were have been made up till date. Even in lean years, the administration has consistently kept its promises.  This is not including the scores of students offered scholarships in the University of Pennsylvania, United States.

    The administration its hands of fellowship to youths in cult groups. This administration assumed office with a burden of youth irredentism and proliferation of secret cult movements in the State. Governments resolve has been that these youths misled by previous administration can be accommodated by the Restoration Government upon renunciation. So far about 11,000 youths across the state renounced cultism. The Ministry of Youth Development in conjunction with other relevant agencies drew-up   programmes designed to build the capacities of repentant cultists for job placement in self-employment. This was a silver bullet that entrenched peace and security and as well as increased the stock of intermediate manpower in the State.

    Governor Dickson reasoned and rightly so that one of the ways to occupy the minds of the youths and keep them useful was to recruit them into the  the Oil and Gas Committee, which was  designed to provide protection for travelers in the waterways and to curb pipeline vandalization, the operation of illegal refineries, and sea piracy. These vices have been drastically reduced.  Some youths were also enlisted into the Nigerian Civil Defense Corps.  This has contributed enormously to up the production of crude oil in the State.

    Only recently, a youth of 33 years has been appointed a Commissioner. Even before then more than half of the Special Assistants and Senior Special Assistants are youths. Some of the Chairmen of Councils are also youths. So many were drafted into the Environmental Sanitation Authority into replace the tired hands, while others are in the revenue collection sector.  All those employed in government owned establishments such as the Cassava Industry at Ebedebiri, the Bayelsa Palm at Elebele, students offered scholarships at the University of Africa, Toru-Orua and the 500 fish farm at Igbogene are all youths.

    Some jobs opportunities have been created in the Ministry of Justice where few people have been employed as magistrates, chairmen of Customary Courts and Counsels in the mainstream judiciary. Some have been employed in the broadcasting industry, while a good number of people have been absorbed in the education industry. About 1,000 youths benefit from the Industrial Training Fund and 250 youths were sent to the King Amachere Royal Academy to learn skills and capacities. Bayelsa’s economic will be skills-driven and a huge number of unemployed people with marketable skills will be mopped-up by Small Scale Industries.

    Over 500 youths have been engaged in the Izon-Ibe Volunteers and this may be increased to 3000 in the foreseeable future. With the establishment of the Izon-Ibe micro-finance Bank, youths now have easy access to micro-finance to start their own businesses. With the increase in the self-employment index, the pressure on government has been reduced and the economy of the State is more productive. This is the meaning of paradigm shift on the road to industrialization.

    Governor Seriake Dickson has revamped the educational system in the State to improve access and quality. Governor Seriake Dickson declared a State of emergency in Education and made primary and Post-Primary education free and compulsory. Implementation of this programme has taken off already though much still needs to be done.

    New schools have been established to increase access and expand opportunities. In her efforts to open more frontiers and opportunities for Bayelsa youths, the following educational institutions have been established. While some have taken-off, others are ready to take-off soon.

    1. International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality.
    2. Teacher Training Institute at Bolou-Orua.
    3. Bayelsa State College of Arts and Science.
    4. Relocation and rejuvenation of the College of Education.
    5. The Sport Academy at Asoama
    6. The proposed Maritime Academy in Brass.
    7. Bayelsa State School of Languages
    8. Bayelsa State School of Music
    9. The University of Africa in Toru-Orua

    It is estimated that some of the new schools will provide opportunity for youths to be trained at the intermediate level to enhance service delivery in the State, other high level manpower will be employed to teach in the schools.

    Within the first 16 months, the Restoration Administration signed Memoranda  of Understanding with several development partners. Some of the MoUs are under the Public-Private Partnership arrangement. They include:

    1. Lagray Chemicals, USA for the development of Pharmaceutical Products.
    2. DST Petroleum Ltd for the establishment of a fertilizer plant in Brass.
    3. Octopol Energy Ltd for gas conversion.
    4. Goshen Treasures Ltd: for the Development of Bayelsa Plastic Industry.
    5. KABLETECH Nigeria Limited: For manufacturing of electricity cable.
    6. Ugboduma and Sons Ltd for the Development of Tourism city.
    7. Alyn Global Services Ltd: for building of aquarium facility.
    8. Clinotech Tunkey Management, Canada for the Production of quarry and other concrete works.
    9. Sivan Design to develop a world-class Computerized System to run its Geographic Information System (BGIS) with Complementary Service including Aerial Mapping.

    These Mou Signed on PPP basic were facilitated on the Ministry of Trade and Investment and the Bayelsa State Investment Promotion Agency. Government has not been able to accomplish all the MoUs because of the economic down-turn occasioned by a slide in the price of crude oil. Now, the price of crude oil has bounced back and some business interests are showing interest in investment.

    Several MoUs also exist in the hospitality industry, Agriculture, education, health and training. The dividends of these myriad Molls will be yielded before the end of the first tenure of the Restoration Administration. Again, government is sensitizing all MDA’s to mainstream Youth development as an important component of policy formulation, implementation and service delivery.

    Bayelsa State is the solar plexus of the Niger Delta and over the years industrialization has taken a backseat. For most Bayelsa youths, government is the only business. This wrong perception has resulted in over dependence on government for everything. Another phenomenon Governor Seriake Dickson has been able to tackle is the tendency to seek for “easy money”. According to Gandhi, “wealth without work is sin”.

    Basically youths in Bayelsa State are limited by  lack of Entrepreneurial skills. It was to fill this gap that an Entrepreneurship Centre has been established to train youths who want to acquire technical, business and entrepreneurial skills.  At the Entrepreneurship Centre, electrical works; Refrigeration Engineering and Repairs, Fashion Designing, Catering, Baking, Cloth Weaving; Tailoring, Plumbing, Wheel Balancing, Computer Operation, Auto Mechanics, Panel Beating, vulcanizing,  Shoe Making and Repairs, Spray Painting, Hair Plating/Weaving among 33 skill sets. The Centre is well-equipped to train low level and intermediate manpower.

    Governor Seriake Dickson believes that youths are leaders of today, not just tomorrow. He has demonstrated this in his policies and programmes. This explains why the inclusivity of youths in Government programmes is given prime attention to ensure that youths are resourceful enough to take their rightful place in the development of society.

    A clinical assessment of the Restoration Administration shows that Governor Dickson set out to operate an administration that is driven by young minds. This is borne-out of his policy of inclusivity in statecraft.  Recognizing that youths, especially trained youths are the catalysts of development, there is enormous emphasis placed on Youth empowerment in Bayelsa State now than ever before. A Don from the University of Port Harcourt, while delivering a paper in Yenagoa remarked that “ under the Restoration Administration of Governor Dickson, the youths of Bayelsa State have enjoyed more inclusion and visibility in running the affairs of the State”  Indeed  the Restoration administration is celebrating six solid years of robust YOUTH EMPOWERMENT.

     

    • Idumange is fellow of IPMA, writes from Yenagoaiduagreen@yahoo.com

  • Promoting women’s economic empowerment

    Women’s  economic  empowerment  is  essential  for  more  inclusive  growth  in Nigeria. It is for this that the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is partnering the Mall For Africa to increase the participation of women in e-retailing and export trade, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) is targeting more women for the global market by 2020. It hopes to achieve this by ensuring that women entrepreneurs are better equipped to create and position products to meet buyers’ requirements and to compete in global markets.

    Speaking in Lagos, during the Women Empowerment For Global Market Access 2020 programme organised by Mall for Africa (MFA), NEPC Zonal Coordinator, Southwest, Mr. Babatunde Faleke, said the organisation, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), Geneva, plans to train more women entrepreneurs in Nigeria on how to explore export trade.

    Under its SheTrades initiative, Faleke said ITC would provide women entrepreneurs across the world access to a global network and to connect to markets.

    Through SheTrades, he explained, ITC aims to connect one million women entrepreneurs to the market by 2020. It would also help corporations to include more women entrepreneurs in their supply chains, he said. Faleke said the best way to grow the economy was to improve on the volume of exports, adding that the programme would enable small businesses benefit from export opportunities.

    The platform, according to him, is aimed at increasing the participation of women in the export sector as part of the drive to industrialise for a sustainable economic future for Nigeria. He reiterated the determination of the council to strengthen the economic empowerment of women to enable them to participate equally in the  export  market.

    He stressed that encouraging and supporting women’s contributions to trade c would not only propel the economic growth but also transform local communities.

    In the face of heightened global challenges, increasing gaps in the income divide and more challenging economic climates, the Managing Director, Mall for Africa, Tope Folayan, noted that empowering women to participate in economic life across all sectors had become imperative to attain internationally accepted goals for development and sustainability.

    To support this, Folayan said his organisation is focusing more attention on the mainstreaming of gender in its entrepreneurship projects.

    Folayan said MFA created WE-GMAP 2020 platform to accelerate economic growth through increased participation of Nigerian women in global trade.

    In partnership with NEPC, Folayan said MFA was working to move women up the export value chain and increase their economic potential.

    Folayan said MFA is able to leverage its international presence in United States, United Kingdom, Kenya and Nigeria, to provide cross border market opportunities for both import and export.

    According to him, MFA runs an online marketplace where buyers from across the world can purchase products offered for sale by African women from the comfort of their homes and/or offices.

    The Programme Coordinator MallforAfrica WE GMAP 2020, Liz Oluwadare explained that MFA is Africa’s largest online e-commerce enabler which provides Africans with a simple, secure and convenient platform through which customers can purchase items directly from over 150 international online retailers. These include online platform, such as Amazon, Macy’s, eBay, Ralph Lauren and Zara. According to her, many of these stores and brands would otherwise be scarcely accessible to the African consumers.  Through its patented technology, she explained that customers in Africa could now buy and sell globally.

    She said granting African women access to markets for their African made products, offers an uncommon opportunity to harness existing resources, promote inclusive market systems development, boost economic growth and achieve sustainable development goals.  The ‘MFA WE-GMAP 2020’ programme, according to her is expected to achieve these and more. She added that the programme aims to enable 20,000 women entrepreneurs across Africa sell their products globally via an online market place. The programme, she added, is expected to have over two million unique items for sale by women entrepreneurs by 2020.

    Her words: “It is the goal that by 2020, MFA WE-GMAP would have built the capacity of at least 20,000 women to export their products, by improving quality standards, providing access to international markets, offering avenues for financing, and providing various forms of technical assistance to women entrepreneurs across Africa. The initial focus industries are: fashion, clothing and textile, arts and crafts, jewelry and accessories, home décor, cosmetics, and educational materials.”

    She said MFA would provide technical assistance and build the capacity of women to export through training on technology, business and standards for global competitiveness.

    Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN) President, Mrs. Funmi Ladipo-Ajala, commended MFA for creating a platform for women to sell their goods with the long-term goal of expanding exports sustainably. For her, ensuring that women take on a greater role in business is crucial to the development of Nigeria.

    By supporting women entrepreneurs to access more markets, she noted that the programme would contribute to creating a more vibrant economy.

    On the economic impact of the fashion sector, Mrs. Ladipo-Ajala said  it has potential to create jobs, add value to raw materials and develop ingenuity.

    She added that, like in so many other sectors, though the ideas and the capacity exist among the talented entrepreneurs in developing countries, there is a need to bring them closer to the market.

     

  • Ekiti workers oppose collection of voters’ cards for empowerment

    Civil servants in Ekiti State have condemned the alleged collection of their voters’ cards in return for financial empowerment from the government.

    Some of the workers expressed fear that the serial numbers and other security features on their voters’ cards may be cloned ahead of the July 14 local government election.

    But the state government denied using the workers’ loan scheme as bait to collect their voters’ cards with the intent to cloning them to gain mileage during the governorship poll.

    An interest group, Enlightened Workers’ Forum (EWF), described the voters’ cards-for-empowerment scheme as a “desperate move to achieve success in the governorship poll”.

    In a statement yesterday by its State Coordinator, Mike Bamidele, EWF noted that women civil servants were the first beneficiaries in the loan scheme.

    He said the exercise, which reportedly started on January 8, had been carried out for women working in the local government service, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ministry of Information, Youth and Sports Development and Civil Service Commission.

    The EWF chief wondered why voters’ cards were being demanded before they could be given the loan at a time they were owed.

    Bamidele said: “We want the public to know that no circular was issued to that effect but the information has been passed to female workers in their ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) through their various heads of departments.

    “For any worker to be qualified for the so-called loan, the person must tender his/her voter’s card and his name recorded against the number on the card.

    “It is our candid opinion that the empowerment of this nature to civil servants is an aberration and we appeal to the workers to be wary of this desperation.”

  • Aliero distributes empowerment tools to 89 wards in Kebbi

    Aliero distributes empowerment tools to 89 wards in Kebbi

    Senator Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi, distributed eight cars, 250 motorcycles and 560 grinding machines in 89 wards of his constituency.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other items distributed were; 500 tailoring machines, 300 water pumps and N10, 000 cash each to 2,000 women in the constituency.

    Aliero, while distributing the tools said it was part of his empowerment drive aimed at making the youths and women become self reliant in the constituency.

    “This is the second time I have empowered my people; the first one, I distributed 600 water pumps, I dug five boreholes in each of the 89 wards.

    “I also built three blocks in primary schools in the eight local government areas and five primary health care centres within the area, among other things, “ he said.

    According to him, twenty five blocks of primary schools will be built under the Universal Basic Education (UBE) in his constituency.

    Also speaking, the state Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Attahiru Maccido, commended the lawmaker for his efforts toward empowering the youth and women in the constituency.

    “We have not regretted voting you and we would always support you.

  • 262 benefit from Emerhor’s N13.1m empowerment

    Two hundred and sixty-two persons, including women and youths, yesterday partook in an empowerment programme sponsored by leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Delta State, Olorogun O’tega Emerhor.

    The event marked the end of a four-day 60th birthday celebration in his Evwreni home in Ughelli North.

    Another party stalwart and former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Victor Ochei, gave N1 million to 20 widows.

    Emerhor said he considered it meaningful to identify with Nigerians under stress, saying the people have not been empowered since the PDP took over power in 1999.

    He urged beneficiaries to invest the seed-fund, saying they will be monitored on how they use it.

    Emerhor promised there will be future endowment for those who prove to be resourceful with the fund.

    “The government has a responsibility to provide for the citizens so that there is a minimum standard of living for the people. But unfortunately, since 1999 when the PDP came to power, we have not been able to attain that level of empowerment.

    “This is one of the primary reasons we are fighting to take over the government because we are people-oriented. The APC must stand to ensure that good governance is enthroned in Delta State.”

    Ochei, who lauded Emerhor’s benevolence, said: “We cannot describe what the state government is doing as empowerment because that is our commonwealth. But we must laud Emerhor’s efforts because what he is doing today is from his personal pocket for the benefit of his people.”

  • 50 indigent women for empowerment at this year’s Ondo Fashion Week

    Not less than 50 indigent women will be empowered at this year’s edition of the Ondo Fashion Week.

    ‎Organisers of the fashion week, which will run from November 24th to 26th in Akure, the Ondo state capital, Creative Fashion Network in conjunction with 609Media, called on the government at all levels to creative an enabling evironment for the fashion industry too thrive in the country.
    The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Honourable Hon, Omowunmi Olatunji Edet, is expected to be the host.
    Creative Head of 609Media, Mrs. Adetutu Adejuyigbe, ‎said the government ‎need to make policies that can influence the production of garments in the country for ease of doing business.
    According to Adejuyigbe, government participation is needed ‎more in the industry to create employment for the teeming unemployedteeming youths.
    ‎Mrs. Adejuyigbe said, “We need government to make policies that can influence the production of garments in Nigeria, reduce taxes to encourage production of clothing and leather works.
    “Increased participation of government in this sector will create more employment and attract more investors in Nigeria.
    “China started small like us , but their government has made everything work, so that they can have hitch-free production of items.
    ” We know that govt reduced taxes on sewing machines, but its still not effective. Sewing machines are still relatively expensive.
    We will be empowering 50 indigent women in Ondo state through the ministry”.
    The Ondo Fashion and Creative Week is a gathering of intellectuals who are into the business of fashion, ranging from fashion designers, shoes and leather work designers, textile makers, makeup artists, cosmetologists and indigenous interior decor designers.

    According to 609Media, the event will feature many established and aspiring fashion designers such as leather work designers, makeup artists and many others.
    According to Mrs Adejuyigbe, also expected at the event are fashion reporters, fashion bloggers and design stockists.

  • Osun charges youth on empowerment

    In line with its strategy to boost the economy of the state and eliminate poverty, the Government of Osun has once again called on able-bodied youths in the state to engage in productive activities, rather than be idle. This directive was contained in a brief issued at the end of the Council of State meeting on Wednesday.

    The government said it has put in place several empowerment programmes in agriculture such as food cropping, chicken rearing and piggery, among others, for anyone to latch on to and be gainfully employed. The State Government lamented that despite its efforts to create numerous platforms for productive engagement, these opportunities are yet to be fully taken advantage of by the youths, some of whom have remained dependent on their parents while others have resorted to begging.

    “Many of these opportunities are underutilised. Council therefore urged young people, especially the unemployed, to be engaged in any of these. No able bodied person in the state should have any reason to be unemployed or engage in begging,” the statement said.

    In a similar vein, the Council frowned at a report, which observed the poor and unhygienic look of pupils in the state’s public schools.

     

  • Community unveils N15m empowerment scheme

    The Aghajiaku Age Grade, Lagos branch has unveiled a N15 million Charity Fund aimed at reducing poverty and empowering the people of Nnokwa Community in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

    Its Patron, Prince Uche Ezeagwu, said the Fund would help people that are financially  challenged in the community.

    Speaking at the Aghajiaku Age Grade’s Golden Jubilee symposium and inauguration of patrons and Board of Trustees (BoT) in Lagos, Prince Ezeagwu said the Age Grade would use the Charity Fund to complete its charity projects and scheme.

    He explained that Aghajiaku Age Grade was formed to bring development into Nnokwa community and empower its people who have one challenge or the other.

    “In 1992, we had set up a scheme for people who are into business or people that are working and for one reason or the other, they were laid off or their businesses had challenges.

    “Such people can come to us and when we investigate such a situation, we give them an opportunity to get back to life. We empower them with money and some of them are given gifts while some are given zero interest loans,” Prince Ezeagwu said.

    According to him, people who have visa are given money to purchase their ticket and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), adding that the Age Grade also supports motherless homes and other physically-challenged groups with money, clothing and food stuff on annual basis.

    “We resuscitate some projects. There are some families we go to in some communities in Lagos, Suleija, Anambra, Abuja, and Nasarawa, you don’t believe people are living there.

    “So, we renovate their homes. Through this fund we empower them financially and materially. We also renovate dilapidated schools in our community,” the pioneer patron said.