No fewer than 1700 people were on Tuesday lifted out of poverty by a member representing Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon Mohammed Omar Bio with the distribution of empowerment items worth N130 million.
The programme which is tagged ‘Mega Empowerment’, took place at Kosubosu, the headquarters of Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Items distributed include: fertilizer, herbicides, spraying cans, hand tractors with tillers and weeders, sewing machines, grinding machines, hair dressing machines, valcanising machines, photocopy equipment, cameras and printers, welding machines, cattle salts, bajaj motorcycles, refrigerators, cash empowerment to market women and widows, and scholarships for students among others.
The beneficiaries include: farmers, artisans, students, market women and vulnerable constituents.
The Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Engr. Salihu Yakubu Danladi; member representing Okuta/Yashikira Constituency in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Mohammed Baba Salihu and his Adena/Banni/Gweria Constituency counterpart, Hon Saidu Ahmed were among the dignitaries at the event.
Others dignitaries were: a member representing Kaiama/Kemaji/Wajibe Constituency, Hon Abdullahi Halidu Danbaba; Commissioner for Energy, Dr. Lafia Aliyu Sabi; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hon Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir; State APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi and TIC Chairman in Baruten Local Government, Hon Abdulrasheed Ibrahim Lafia.
Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Usman Seriki Sabi Kpasi (Seriki Tamma) and Emir of Ilesha Baruba, Prof Halidu Abubakar were among the Royal Fathers at the event.
Speaking during the presentation of the items to beneficiaries, Hon Bio said his Mega Empowerment programme which was second in the edition, was to put smiles on the faces of the beneficiaries.
He added that “it is constitutionally believed in Nigeria that core mandates of legislature is lawmaking, oversight and effective representation. In lawmaking, I am privileged to say that I have several motions and bills to my credit, especially in the area of response to happenings and developmental projects in our Constituency.
“This is to the tune of Kishi-Kaiama road, Kaiama Kosubosu road, Chikanda Ilesha Baruba road and other roads, gruesome murder of our constituents in Ilesha Baruba, wiping out of corruption in our country, establishment of border community development offices, establishment of Federal Medical Centre, establishment of University of Agriculture and establishment of University of Science and Technology in our constituency respectively.
“On representation which has to do with facilitation of laudable projects for the benefits of the constituents and attending to the needs of the constituents. It is my wish to inform you that I have been following this up since assumption of office as member of House of Representatives.
“As we speak, I has facilitated a reasonable number of projects such as motorised, industrial and hand pumb boreholes, transformers, solar street lights, construction of roads, police station, classrooms across the constituency among others”, he said.
The lawmaker explained further that apart from infrastructural achievements, the needs, yearnings and aspirations of the people spurred him to greatly work on empowerment of constituents.
Hon Bio assured his constituents of continuous qualitative representation and meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
The Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi who was represented by the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Umar Danladi Sero, appreciated Hon Bio for the programme which he expressed optimistic that it would lift the beneficiaries out of poverty.
He said the present administration is very committed to poverty eradication and wellbeing of the people of the State.
On their parts, Engr Danladi and Prince Fagbemi thanked the lawmaker for the programme which they said was interdum with policies and programmes of APC led administration in the state.
Emir of Yashikira, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Usman Seriki Sabi Kpasi (Seriki Tamma), appreciated the present crops of politicians in the state led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for their efforts at reducing poverty and making young ones productive.
Other dignitaries who spoke at the event, charged the beneficiaries to make judicial use of the items so as to improve on their standard of living.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with our reporter, expressed deep appreciation to the lawmaker for the kind gesture and promised to use the items received for intended purposes.
