By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture,Senator Saliu Mustapha representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly on Friday distributed empowerments items worth several Billions of Naira to carefully selected 2500 beneficiaries across the senatorial district .

The items which included,cows, sewing machines, grinding machine, Sienna bus,cars among others,were arrived at,after finding out the exact needs of the people of the senatorial district, says the Senator’s Technical Assistant on Skills Acquisition Mallam Abdulquodir Nasir.

Nasir told people at the event that all the beneficiaries who had been trained about their respective item were carefully selected without recourse to politics or party affiliation, stressing that they were selected based on merit .

“To a large extent,based on the training we have given the beneficiaries,we have no doubt that they would not sell the items and that they would be used to further empower them and their respective family members.”he added .

Senator Saliu Mustapha in his address said the even was in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda, saying that,”if we must align with Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda,we must play key roles in the education of our people,and empowering them to contribute significantly to the nation’s economy.’

“I have always consulted with my brother’s in the senate.Today’s program is a symbolic one to flag off work with the people we have trained.We have given over 200 youths scholarship to university level, including accomodation.

“I was fascinated the other day,seeing women climbing poles when they were being trained about how to fix and repair solar when I went to check them during the training session.

“We have those in the abattoir business too over 100 of them who will go home with one cow each,it’s worth N1M each .

“We also have refrigerator for those lacking means to preserve items from which they’re earning means of livelihood.

“We have over 450 grinding machine for our women,we have taken time to find out that several of our women machines are not working.

“Two tractors each for the LG is als to Support farmers in the local governments in my constituency .

“The vehicles for our people are also of petrol and CNG,so it’s an all encompassing empowerments based on the critical needs of our people which my team found out.There are others too numerous to mention .

“I commend the state government because these things we are doing, they’re also doing the same.”he said .

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin,who represented the Senate President Senator Goodwill Akpabio at the event in his personal capacity also contributed 200 sewing machines to support his colleague, because he was impressed .

“We all decided to come here and share this moment with SM.He’s one of the senators we are proud of in the senate.He’s always passionate about Kwara whenever he’s in the Senate.We will continue to work and collaborate with him.”he added.

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru, representing Kwara South in his remarks said he was overwhelmed by the magnitude of the empowerment items, saying that such had never happened in the history of Kwara state.

“When you’re doing good, please keep it up , Almighty God is always there to reward you” he told Senator Saliu Mustapha.

For his part Senator Abubabar Yari,Minister of agriculture and food security who commended the initiative and the process expressed no doubt that the empowerment by the beneficiaries would contribute to Nigeria’s GDP.

National Secretary of APC Senator Bashiru Ajibola in his remarks also commended the senator, stressing however that from what had been said his joy is that the beneficiaries would judiciously used the item.

The program which took place at Lower Niger Basin premises,at Basin road ilorin attracted distinguished Senators among which are Deputy Senate president, Senator Barau Jibrin,Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Lola Ashiru, Minister of agriculture, Senator Abubabar Yari, Senator Adetokunbo Ashiru from Lagos and the National Secretary of the ruling APC, Senator Bashiru Ajibola among others.

List of the empowerment items include Fertilisers – 10,000 bags ,Tractor – 20,Brand new Sienna vehicles – 30,Tricycle Truck – 55 Truck Tricycle – 52,,Complete Industrial Rice Milling equipment – 30 and Transformer – 25.
Others are:Complete Garri Processing machine – 25,Pumping machine – 400,Industrial Baking Oven – 50,Fish Smoking Oven – 50,Cow – 100,Grinding machines – 500,Freezer – 400,Generator – 200,Butterfly Sewing Machine – 200.Industrial Sewing Machine – 55.
Also included are:Rewire Tools Box – 100
Mechanic Tools Box – 100,Gas Powered Pressing Iron – 100,Big bags of Watermelon – 100,Big Cartons Apple – 100,Complete Solar Installation equipment – 200,Dry Season Farmer – 200,Aso Oke Weavers equipment – 60,Bags of Coconut – 100,Bags of Pineapple fruit – 150,Bags of Oranges – 200,Bags of Cabbage – 100,Bunches of Banana – 200,Bags of Cucumber – 200,Baskets of Pepper – 200,Baskets of Tomatoes – 200,Bags of Onion – 200,Yam tubers – 2000,Bags of Beans – 200,Bags of Garri – 200,Bags of Maize – 200,Bags of Brocoli – 50,Basket of Okro – 50,Basket of Sweet Potatoes – 100,Cartons of Fish – 400 and Umbrella – 1000