Senator Mustapha Empowers 2,500 Kwara Residents with Business, Agricultural Support
Senator Saliu Mustapha, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and representative of Kwara Central, has distributed empowerment items worth billions of naira to 2,500 residents across his senatorial district in a large-scale initiative aimed at boosting livelihoods and economic growth.
The distribution, which took place at the Lower Niger Basin premises in Ilorin, covered key sectors, including agriculture, business support, and vocational skills. Beneficiaries received items such as cows, sewing machines, grinding machines, Sienna vehicles, tricycles, industrial equipment, and farming tools to enhance their productivity and self-reliance.
Speaking at the event, the senator’s Technical Assistant on Skills Acquisition, Mallam Abdulquodir Nasir, emphasized that beneficiaries were selected based on merit rather than political affiliation. He added that all recipients were trained on how to use the resources effectively to prevent misuse or resale.
Senator Mustapha reiterated that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes education, job creation, and economic development.
He also highlighted other empowerment efforts, including scholarships for over 200 youths, training in solar panel repairs, and direct support for more than 100 abattoir workers, each receiving a cow worth ₦1 million.
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Women engaged in food processing were provided with grinding machines and freezers, while transportation workers received vehicles equipped with both petrol and CNG capabilities.
The event was attended by top government officials, including Deputy Senate President Senator Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate Leader Senator Lola Ashiru, Minister of Agriculture Senator Abubakar Yari, and APC National Secretary Senator Bashiru Ajibola.
Representing Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Jibrin commended Mustapha’s commitment and personally contributed 200 sewing machines to the initiative. Deputy Senate Leader Ashiru described the effort as unprecedented in Kwara’s history, while Agriculture Minister Yari noted its potential to boost Nigeria’s GDP.
The large-scale distribution included 10,000 bags of fertilizer, 20 tractors, 30 rice milling machines, 25 transformers, 25 garri processing machines, and 400 water pumps for agricultural development. Additionally, 30 Sienna vehicles, 55 tricycle trucks, 52 standard tricycles, 50 industrial baking ovens, 50 fish smoking ovens, 100 mechanic toolboxes, and 100 rewiring toolboxes were provided to support small businesses.
In the livestock and food processing sector, 100 cows, 500 grinding machines, 400 freezers, and 200 generators were distributed, alongside 200 complete solar installation kits and 1,000 umbrellas for market traders.
Senator Mustapha commended the Kwara State Government for complementing his efforts and reaffirmed his commitment to initiatives that promote economic self-reliance.
He emphasized that the program was based on extensive research into the needs of his constituents, with the goal of fostering long-term economic stability and growth.
