Politicians and the well- to- do in the society have been charged to come up with initiatives and programs designed to uplifting the living standard of people.
Kebbi State Governor Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu gave the charge during the empowerment of 800 female entrepreneurs organised by Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rashid the founder of Sardaunan Gwandu Foundation at the Presidential Banquet Hall in Birnin Kebbi this Sunday.
The governor was represented by Chief of Staff Government House Birnin Kebbi, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, Jarman Kabi while commending the founder of the program, Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rashid who is also Special Adviser to the governor on Energy requested wealthy individuals and politicians to borrow a leaf from Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rashid for his laudable support to women.
According to Bagudu, such valuable and laudable gesture could in no small measure compliment the effort of state government in providing sucour to people especially women.
” Government cannot do it alone to provide all the needs of people largely due to paucity of funds .
” However the Government has set the initiative for people of the state to be self reliant by giving emphasis to farming and entrepreneurship .
” We can now boast of Wacot rice Mills , Lolo rice Mills, and there is the GB Foods Tomatoes company among others, all these are private driven courtesy of State Government encouragement to private investors who now see Kebbi State as a friendly business hub “, he said.
He said his administration was committed to supporting small scale businesses , women and the less privileged in the society .
” Government has initiated a number of empowerment programs, gave out loans to associations such as NURTW, NARTO, Fish sellers, Hand set sellers among others”, he averred.
The governor promised to encourage leaders especially those in Government to come up with programs that could assist people.
Earlier, the wife of Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu and the wife of Hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, Hajiya Aisha Malami, all lauded the initiative of Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rashid, Special Adviser on Energy for empowering the women to be self reliant.
Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu in her remarks congratulated and extolled the qualities of Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rashid, the founder of Sardaunan Gwandu Foundation for reaching out to hundreds of women through his empowerment program.
In her words ‘ let me congratulate thank and extoll Alhaji Yusuf Haruna, the Special Adviser to the governor on Energy.
‘ I thank you for uplifting the standard of women in Kebbi State. This will go along way in assisting young school leavers to buy their JAMB forms .
” Empowering, assisting women is like assisting the whole society that is why governor Bagudu”s administration attaches great importance to the development of women.
‘ We have women Councillors, Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Attorney General, Special Advisers, SAs, and Senior Special Advisers, SSAs all appointment by the incumbent administration ‘ she said.
The wife of the governor also lauded her husband for the myriad of interventions and programs geared toward the development of women in Kebbi State such as the Kebbi State Multi Purpose Cooperatives that dolled out millions of naira as loan to empower women in entrepreneurship.
She advised women to imbibe the habit of regular visit to hospitals for medical check-up.
On her part, the wife of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation Abubakar Malami, SAN also commended Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rashid for what she described as ‘ valuable gesture’ to women in Kebbi State.
She also appreciated Governor Bagudu, his wife , Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu for doing so much to better the lives of women in the state.
The Special Adviser to the governor on Power , Alhaji Yusuf Haruna Rashid who is also the founder of Sardaunan Gwandu Foundation said the initiative was to assist women engage in trade and commerce especially the less privileged.
He acknowledged that the state governor and his wife have been assisting people which has made positive impact to their lives.
He strictly warned the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously for the purpose intended .
The Chairman of APC Elders Forum in the State, Alhaji Sani Hukuma Zauro, Justice Ismail Haruna Rashid, the District Head of Kalgo, Sarkin Gobir Haruna Jada Bashar delivered goodwill messages at the event.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of ten thousand naira each to the the 800 female beneficiaries which was stated by the wife of the Governor , Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu.
