Member representing Somolu Constituency in the Federal House of Representative says he is empowering artisans and petty traders in his constituency to help boost their businesses and ensure they are able to overcome poverty and support their children to school.
Kuye made this known in an interview with The Nation recently, when he embarked on yet another round of empowerment of the petty traders, who are generally regarded as people of the lowest business rung.
The lawmaker, who said knowing your people and what they want is a vital part of representation, said his people of Somolu are largely lower class people whose businesses are largely petty and menial and can do with money as little as N50,000 and N20,000.
“We started with the artisans, when we gave them stuffs that they use in their various endeavours, like grinding machines, sewing machines, laptops, clippers and generators for barbers, hair driers for hair dressers. Then we started giving out like N100,000 to support middle-class businesses. Later we moved to the N50,000 class. Right now, what we are doing is reaching out to those selling pepper, corn and such little stuff by the roadside. I can tell you that what some of them need is as little as N10,000, N20,000, N25,000. So, we would come to your community, look at what you are into and extend our little help to you to further enhance the business.”
He added that empowering the women traders will also empower them to be able to send their children to school.
“When they put that little money into their business, they are able to send their children to school. We don’t want any child to be left behind in terms of education. True, government has provided free education, but parents have to pay their children’s transport to school, give their children money to feed when they get to school. We want to make sure that all the children of these old women who missed the opportunity to go to school don’t suffer the same fate.”
Some of the beneficiaries of the Kuye Money for support who spoke to The Nation, thanked the legislator and prayed for his success in future endeavours.