In a determined effort to tackle the challenges of unemployment and poverty, Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, has launched a comprehensive empowerment programme that will benefit 920 artisans and market women from the Kwara Central Senatorial District.

The programme kicked off with a skill acquisition training session held at Senator Mustapha’s constituency office. The initiative, which began on Thursday, is a collaboration between the Industrial Arbitration Panel under the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and Gemstone Integrated Farm Nigeria Limited. The training aims to equip participants with vital skills and tools that will promote self-reliance and entrepreneurship within the community.

Speaking at the event, Alhaji Abdulsalam AbdulRaheem, Head of Procurement at the Industrial Arbitration Panel, underscored the importance of skill acquisition in addressing the growing unemployment crisis in Nigeria. He emphasized that providing unemployed youths with the necessary skills and tools can transform them into employers, thereby reducing dependence on government jobs and contributing to the nation’s economic development.

“Equipping youths with working tools is not just about immediate employment; it’s about creating opportunities that can lead to job creation and economic stability,” AbdulRaheem stated.

The Senator’s Technical Adviser on Entrepreneurship, Skill Acquisition, and Job Creation, Mr. Nas AbdulKadri, highlighted the significance of the training, noting that it is designed to ensure participants effectively utilize the tools and resources they receive, thereby fostering sustainable business growth.

Alhaji Tunde Abdulkadri, the Senator’s Legislative Assistant, provided further details on the structure of the program, revealing that the training began with 320 artisans and will subsequently extend to 600 market women. These beneficiaries, ranging from mechanics and electricians to laundry service operators and caterers, will receive essential tools tailored to their specific trades, aimed at enhancing their business operations and preventing the misuse or sale of the provided resources.

“The goal is to prevent beneficiaries from selling the items they receive. Instead, we want to ensure they use these tools to genuinely grow their businesses and contribute to the local economy,” Abdulkadri said.

Representing Senator Mustapha at the event, the Director-General of the Saliu Mustapha Foundation, Alhaji Ambali Shuaib, reiterated the Senator’s commitment to supporting both federal and state government efforts in poverty alleviation. Shuaib assured participants that, beyond the training, they would receive start-up capital and essential working tools to successfully launch and sustain their ventures.

Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the initiative, promising to utilize the items effectively to enhance their businesses. A caterer from Asa Local Government Area, Tajudeen Balkis Tanwa, and Lawal Mustapha from Ilorin West praised Senator Mustapha for his proactive approach in improving their livelihoods, noting that the programme would significantly boost their businesses and economic standing.

Senator Saliu Mustapha’s empowerment programme is a crucial step towards reducing unemployment and fostering a culture of self-reliance and entrepreneurship in Kwara Central.