A Philanthropist, Mallam Saliu Mustapha has canvassed for the need to solve the problem of empowerment, unemployment, poverty and hunger bedeviling the nation.
Mallam Mustapha, while explaining to journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital reasons behind his multi-million naira empowerment programmes, said larger percentage of people, especially women and youths are walloping in poverty and hunger, hence the need to compliment government’s efforts in combating the societal challenges.
The Philanthropist, who is the Founder of a Non Governmental Organization, Saliu Mustapha Foundation, therefore said government across levels must address problem of unemployment, poverty and hunger to stem the rising tide of criminality in the society.
Mallam Mustapha, who empowered 268 people with a cash of twenty five million naira, said one hundred and fifty women were selected across the local government areas of the state and were given seventy thousand naira each in the first tranche of the empowerment programme to enhance their businesses, while one hundred women were given one hundred thousand each, ten women also received two hundred thousand naira each and eight randomly selected women collected three hundred thousand naira each to start businesses.
The former All Progressives Congress Governorship aspirant in Kwara State, explained that the empowerment, which was titled ” Fighting poverty and growing Small Medium Enterprises in Kwara” was his personal conviction and fulfilling Allah’s command for privileged people to use their wealth for the benefit of man and provide succor to those in need.
According to him, he has embarked on series of empowerment programmes through his pet project “Saliu Mustapha Foundation” especially in the areas of education, health, empowerments, employments, scholarships to less privileged and distribution of food items targeted at solving the problem of empowerment, poverty and hunger.
“This empowerment is borne out of my passion to put smiles in the faces of my people in Kwara state, particularly Ilorin Emirates. I have the intention of embarking on humanitarian services, empowering our women by giving them monies to start and build on their existing businesses, provide scholarship for students, purchase JAMB forms for them and trained them in the use of ICT to write the exam. This is what Allah command us to do in life, to give out of our wealth to the needy”, Mustapha said.
While eulogizing the commitment of Mallam Saliu Mustapha in bringing people out of poverty and hunger, a renowned historian, Alhaji LAK Jimoh, harped on the need for wealthier individuals in the state to toe the path of Mallam Mustapha by using their abundant wealth for the benefit of humanity.
Also speaking, a one time Federal House of Representatives aspirant, Mallam Tajudeen Olesin described Mallam Saliu Mustapha as a real ambassador of Ilorin Emirate based on his outstanding quality of generosity that proved him as true lover of the masses.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to newsmen commended Mallam Saliu Mustapha for empowering them without being sentiment to any clime, describing the gesture as unique in the history of the state, especially when they are not in the era of politicking.
They however assured that they would make good use of the opportunity for them to turn to employers of labour.
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