Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq on Thursday launched a ₦50,000 grant fund for at least 4000 artisans in the state to support businesses and strengthen the local economy.
“This program is one of the initiatives to support local industries, talents and SMEs to develop. It prevents the export of jobs, strengthens the local economy, reduces the level of poverty, and improves the standard of living in the country,” AbdulRazaq said at the launch in Ilorin, the state capital .
“Before our administration in 2019, Kwara State did not have a structured and legally supported initiative to encourage and support local industries, entrepreneurship, small trades, and poverty alleviation.
“History testifies that we have done this through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme. We will not drop the ball.”
The government in 2020 contracted the production of 500,000 face masks to the Nigerian Tailoring Union state branch to curb the spread of COVID 19, apart from some other support available to the group.
According to a press release signed by Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, AbdulRazaq said that the artisans are the custodians of various skills and the main driver of sustainable economic growth, adding their inclusion in the intervention will help encourage the development of skills and growth. economy.
“What we are doing now is taking the policy of inclusive growth to a new height. Artisans are the custodians of various skills and the main drivers of sustainable economic growth. Included in this intervention will help support the development of skills and grow the economy,” he said.
He congratulated the beneficiaries and urged them to make good use of the funds for good impact on the society.
In the presence of cabinet members, other government officials; labor leaders, and party supporters, including Acting General Manager for Kwara State Social Investment Program (KWASSIP), Abdulquowiyu Olododo; Director General of APC State Campaign Council Ambassador Abdulfatai Seriki and thousands of artisans.
Acting General Manager of KWASSIP, AbdulQuowiyu Olododo, said the 4,000 artisans were carefully selected from 13,000 applicants in 16 local governments, calling it another giant step towards eradicating poverty in the country.
He praised AbdulRazaq for his leadership qualities, his passion for the masses, and how he supported the agency to progress in the tasks assigned to it.
“I must commend the efforts of a visionary, faithful and wise leader, His Excellency Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, without whom we would not have been able to get this far. Thank you very much, sir,” he said.
The President, State Artisans Congress, Alhaji Jimoh Adeshina, commended the Governor for his leadership style and how he supports local artisans in various ways.
He said the current grant of ₦50,000 each to 4,000 artisans is unique and will greatly impact the lives of the recipients.
“We must thank God for the gift of Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq. The governor has kept all his promises to Kwara artisans during the 2019 campaign. The important thing is that the governor kept his promise to protect us if elected to power,” he said.
Adeshina said Kwara artisans cannot quantify the huge impact of the support they have received from the administration, pointing to various programs that are currently benefiting their members.
“During the heat of COVID 19, they contracted tailors to produce all masks for state use. They have also involved local residents, who are usually our members, in the execution of government contracts, thus helping to return our members who have become okada riders due to lack of patronage in a month.
“The government has built schools and hospitals, and built roads. Most kwara artisans work at the project site. Bricklayers, carpenters and carpenters among others benefit from this. It means we benefit more from this government,” he said.
“In addition to that, the Governor also gives scholarship slots to 50 members every year to attend the capacity building program at IVTEC so that we can meet up with modern standards. Only, the Governor gives scholarships to 400 local artisans to participate in training and buy work tools so that the participants can walk properly. Everything you do has an impact on many people, but we are the ones who get more. We can’t thank Him enough,” he said.