By Obansa Ibrahim, Lokoja
As part of effort to put smile on the faces of the people at the grassroot, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Connected Development Ambassador Hamzat Lawal has empowered over 500 women with cash to improve their livelihoods.
The empowernment programme which 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 incoming administration in Kogi State was organized by one of the leading Civil Society Organization , ‘Connected Development’
The programme took place in Adavi, Kogi-Koton Karfe, Okehi and Okene local government areas of Kogi State.
Addressing the beneficiaries during the post election sensitization and advocacy in Okene on Friday, Ambassador Lawal, said the empowernment is 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 has to complement the effort of the state government in eradicating poverty at the grassroots and urged other spirited individual and corporate organizations to consolidate on what government had been doing to ameliorate the suffering of the less privileges in the state.
“Recently, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello launched ministry of humanitarian affairs and started with palliative and empowernment programme and I think that as CSO, individual 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. We targeted 500 people in different wards across the state. We have reached out to 100 vulnerable people in Koton-Karfe at Ohimeyge Igu 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, adding that “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.