By Yakubu Salisu
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State has disbursed the sum of twenty-three million, two hundred and fifty thousand naira (₦23,250,000) to street hawkers in the state.
The Cottage, Trade and Street Hawking Empowerment Program which took place on Wednesday evening registered 465 beneficiaries with each recipient going home with the sum of fifty thousand naira each (₦50,000).
This, the Governor said is in fulfilment of his administration’s promises to continue to accord priority to vulnerable groups especially, youth and women by improving their various trades and skills through occasional intervention for continues life sustenance.
Abba Kabir stated that street hawkers trading along nine junctions out of the 38 across the state were captured in this phase of empowerment which include; K/Dan’Agundi, K/Famfo, Gidan Murtala, Tal’udu, Magwan Junction.
Others are, Abuja Yandusa (Sani Marshal Road), Maiduguri Road, Iyaka and Commissioner Roads while reassuring the remaining 28 junctions will equally be accorded with the desired attention until all of them are covered.
Recalled that Abba Kabir’s administration recently empowered 5200 women beneficiaries with N50,000 each which is equivalent to the total sum of N260,000,000.00 with positive feedbacks indicating such initiatives had started yielding positive results as the socioeconomic status of the beneficiaries has increased.
Abba Kabir described the youths as patriots who through thick and thin faced the challenges of poverty and deprivation by treading the path of honor, dignity and respect.
Furthermore, he added that taking into cognizance, the immense social and economic befits derived from this group of citizens, his Administration had revived the once moribund and ineffective Directorate of Cottage, Trade and Street Hawking appointed a Director General with functional Departments and Units to ensure that Street Hawkers and Cottage are fully engaged and supported in all ways possible.
The Governor urge them to make judicious utilization of the funds received to expand their respective businesses in order to generate a positive multiplier effect in the economy of the State, while praying to Almighty ALLAH to continue to guide and protect all in this and similar endeavors throughout his tenure.