Former Governorship apirant on the platform of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Mallam Saliu Mustapha on Sunday (November 24, 2019) empowered 150 women drawn across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state with sum of N10.5 million.
The gesture which was released through his foundation, Saliu Mustapha Foundation (SMF), was aimed at empowering women folk to enable them jumb start a business or boost their existing businesses.
Speaking during the event held at the Saliu Mustapha Foundation office, Fate Roundabout, Ilorin, the kwara state capital, the Director of the Center for Ilorin Studies, University of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Janwondo described the gesture as a step in a right direction.
Janwondo who is an Associate Professor at the Department of History and International Studies, faculty of Arts, University of Ilorin, said the gesture would go a long way in adding value to the lives of the beneficiaries.
Jawondo described Saliu Mustapha as a rare politician who believes that people should not wait until they wear a political toga before they impact on the lives of the less privilege.
The don called on politicians, corporate organisations and well meaning individuals to place more emphasis on human capital development rather than infrastructural development, saying that if citizens are well empowered they will join hands with government to put necessary infrastructure in place in the society.
Also speaking at the occasion, Ustadh Abdulquadri Omo-Alubarika described Saliu Mustapha as a unique politician who has been assisting people before, during and after he sought for political office in the state, saying that he is a man with high level of spirit of forgiveness and very humble, kind-hearted, generous and God-fearing.
Presenting the cash to the beneficiaries, Elder Sunday Oyebiyi who represented the state APC Chairman at the occasion, commended Mallam Mustapha for his regular kind gesture aimed at uplifting the living standard of the women folk in the state.
In his address shortly after the presentation of cash to the beneficiaries, the Director General of Saliu Mustapha Foundation, Alhaji Ambali Adebayo Suhaib said the foundation identified 150 indigent women drawn across the 16 local government areas irrespective of religious differences for the empowerment.
Alhaji Suhaib explained that initial plan was to empower 100 women, but the SMF Principal, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, magnanimously approved the increase of the figure to 150 to be able to capture as many as possible, adding that the sum of N10.5 was distributed to them.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries Alhaja Munirat Aloba from Ilorin East local government area, described the gesture as very timely, helpful and supportive.
It would be recalled that the sum of N10m was presented to 100 kwaran women in December, 2018 by Saliu Mustapha Foundation.
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