The member representing Musawa/Matazu Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed, has donated N35 million grant to 70 constituents with viable business plans to enable them venture into business to better their livelihoods.
Speaking at the event held in Musawa on Sunday, the lawmaker said the initiative was geared towards offering business financial support and relief to individuals during the current economic downturn, to enable them invest and to generate a decent livelihood for basic necessities of life.
Statement by Mr. Sardauna Francis, the Special Assistant on Media to the Lawmaker who is also the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Interior, said each of the 70 beneficiaries with viable business plans, selected from across the 21 political wards of the constituency, will receive N500,000 as a non-refundable business grant to make them self-reliant and financially independent.
Ahmed, who also distributed 100 tricycle-wheelchairs to persons living with disabilities and 2,500 bags of fertiliser to farmers in the constituency, said the gestures further underscores his commitment to supporting his constituents and driving inclusive socio-economic growth and development.
He expressed confidence that the empowerment fund, wheelchairs and fertiliser would help the beneficiaries to realise their full potential, contribute to the local economy, and create a brighter future for themselves and their families.
Ahmed, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Interior, said: “These empowerment initiatives aim to cushion the current economic hardships and drive small scale entrepreneurship as well as improved farming activities and assuage the sufferings of persons living with disabilities in the constituency.
“This is time for real. Our people have given us the mandate in March, and this is the time to bring meaningful development to Musawa/Matazu Federal Constituency through quality representation and sustainable dividends of democracy.”
The APC lawmaker pledged to remain committed to sustaining multi-sectoral interventions in agriculture, education, and road and health sectors of the economy for the betterment of his constituency.
He, however, added that he will continue to optimise his seat to propose bills, motions and deploy other legislative instruments to enhance the standard of his constituents and the state at large.
The state acting Governor, Hon. Faruk Lawal, while distributing the cash and other items to the beneficiaries, applauded the legislator for delivering pro-masses projects and urged other lawmakers in the state to emulate him.
He described Hon. Abdullahi Aliyu Ahmed as an accomplished lawmaker and astute politician, whose impact in his constituency and the state is worthy of commendation.
According to him, “Let me add that all these initiatives by the federal lawmaker are in line with the developmental agenda of Dikko Umaru Radda forward-thinking government of Katsina state.”
Earlier, the State APC Vice-chairman, Bala Abu, assured of the provision of a supervisory measure to ensure proper utilisation of the fund with a view to multiplying them into thousand folds within a short period.
He stated that the lawmaker has also donated 1,000 security lights to be installed across the constituency to improve the security of the area, and a donation of N50,000 each to all the traditional leaders that graced the occasion.
The APC stalwart averred that in the area of road infrastructure, Ahmed has awarded a new contract for the construction of a 6-kilometre road in the constituency, and had virtually rehabilitated all the major roads in the area.