Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has distributed empowerment materials, including vehicles and motorcycles, to youths and women in Zaria.

Speaking at the event on Sunday, Mr Abbas urged beneficiaries of the empowerment programme to use the items provided to build sustainable businesses. He said the programme was designed to promote economic participation by giving people the tools and resources needed to turn their skills into productive ventures.

“This is not charity. It is an investment in productivity. The objective is not to make beneficiaries dependent on public officials, but to help them build sustainable businesses,” he said.

The speaker urged beneficiaries to manage their resources responsibly, maintain proper financial records, save part of their earnings and ensure regular maintenance of their equipment. He said equipment alone could not guarantee success without discipline, commitment and effective business management.

Mr Abbas encouraged beneficiaries to pursue cooperative ventures to reduce operational costs, improve market access and strengthen their businesses. He noted that supporting women economically would benefit entire households, particularly through improved access to children’s education, nutrition and healthcare.

He added that empowering young people with skills, capital and market access would promote self-reliance, dignity and community stability.

Mr Abbas said his interventions in education, skills acquisition and economic empowerment aimed at connecting knowledge and competence with employment opportunities. He acknowledged the economic difficulties Nigerians face under President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s ongoing reforms, urging the government to translate economic gains into improved living conditions.

Mr Abbas also urged officials to ensure fairness in selecting beneficiaries, stressing that political connections should not replace genuine need and merit. He further urged residents of Zaria federal constituency and Kaduna to support Mr Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, as well as Governor Uba Sani and other All Progressives Congress candidates.

Mr Sani, represented by the secretary to the Kaduna government, Abdulkadir Meyere, commended Abbas for his interventions in Zaria and other communities.

Mr Sani said the interventions demonstrated the speaker’s and the state government’s commitment to improving residents’ welfare and supporting community development. He urged APC members to reciprocate the support by strengthening the party and mobilising voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

The chairman of Zaria council area, Jamil  Muhammad, said the council had sustained empowerment initiatives for party members, youths and community groups. Mr Muhammad said previous interventions included motorcycles, grinding machines and sewing machines to support beneficiaries’ livelihoods.

He said the latest programme would also benefit party executives and former executives, as well as groups involved in community and religious activities. The chairman added that the council would provide motorcycles to selected groups to facilitate their activities and improve their operational capacity.

He said the empowerment programme was part of broader efforts to strengthen the welfare of APC members and other residents.

Mr Muhammad commended Messrs Tinubu, Sani and Abbas for supporting development initiatives across Zaria and other parts of Kaduna. He also urged party members to mobilise support for APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

(NAN)