By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
As part of effort to improve the livelihoods of people at the grassroots, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development (CODE), Amb. Hamzat Lawal, has empowered over 500 women with N5,000 cash each to improve their livelihoods.
Lawal said the empowernment programme was part of the Post Election Sensitization Advocacy to the Grassroots on the need to sustain the existing peace in the state and to set agenda for the in-coming administration in Kogi State.
Speaking at the event in Okene, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of CODE said the programme had taken place in Adavi, Kogi-Koton Karfe, Okehi and Okene Local Government Areas of Kogi State.
Amb. Lawal said the empowernment was a token to appreciate women for coming out en-mass to cast their ballots peacefully during the November 11, 2023, off-cycle governorship election in Kogi State.
Lawal who is also an international election monitor noted that as a philanthropist, he had to complement the effort of the state government in eradicating poverty at the grassroots.
He urged other public-spirited individuals and corporate organizations to consolidate on government efforts to ameliorate the suffering of the less privileged in the state.
“Recently, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello launched Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and started with palliative and empowernment programmes.
“And I think that as CSOs, individuals and private sector, we should consolidate on what government is doing to eradicate poverty especially at the grassroots.
“This cash empowernment which is N5,000 per recipient is targeted at 500 people in different wards across the state.
“We have reached out to 100 vulnerable people in Koton-Karfe at Ohimeyge-Igu’s palace, 200 people at Oboroke in Ihima, 100 beneficiaries at Abuga Ozuja ward in Okengwe and 100 people at Onyi-koko ward in Okene.
“This empowernment is mainly meant for women because they are peace builders and the fabric of the society.
“I am using this medium to appealed to women to prioritize the education of their children and wards. I am here today because of how much my mother has invested in me through education and I want every parents to do same”, he advised.
Ambassador Lawal also took the post election advocacy to Onoziomi central mosque in Adavi LGA where he charged Muslims faithful to remain peaceful even in the face of provocation, noting that Islam is a religion of peace.
One of the beneficiaries of the empowernment Mrs Hafsat Suleiman from Oboroke in Ihima community, described the gesture as a big relief to women at the grassroots.
She added, “this is the first time an individual will come to the ward for post election advocacy and also presenting cash to the people.
She thank Ambassador Hamzat Lawal for his kind gesture and urged other well meaning Nigerians to emulate him. (Ends)