At least 600 youth and women in Ilọrin East and South local government area of Kwara state have been empowered with start up items and toolkits to make them self reliant.
Speaking during the distribution of Economic Empowerment and Poverty alleviation items /Toolkits for women and youth in Ilọrin, organised by Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in collaboration with member representing Ilọrin East and South federal constituency of Kwara state, Dr Yinka Aluko said the idea of the initiative is to give back to the society and reduce poverty level among the people.
Represented by his legislative aide Isiaka Amode, Aluko said the empowerment items given out should be seen as a right not a privilege.
He advised the beneficiaries to ensure they use the items given to them for the purposes they are meant for to make their lives better .
The lawmaker urged those who were not captured in the present empowerment to exercise patience for next batch.
Aluko advised the beneficiaries to take advantage of the opportunity and start up a business no matter how small .
In his address the coordinator of the empowerment programme, Abdullahi Galadima said the essence of the empowerment is to improve the economic wellbeing of the beneficiaries.
He said the beneficiaries were selected directly from their communities .
In their separate remarks some of the beneficiaries, Akande Adekunle and Aremu Oyinkansola said the empowerment items will enhance their business.
They said the income made will be used to support the family .
They however appealed to other beneficiaries not to contemplate selling the items, adding that they should use them for the purposes they are meant.
