By Samson Obande,  Lafia

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Nasarawa State, Hon. Dr. Aliyu Bello has empowered over 1000 women in Lafia Local Government Area with cash grants of N20,000 each to enable them start petty businesses for self-sustenance.

The empowerment programme, held on Thursday at the Lafia City Hall, was carried out in partnership with the Hon. Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Aminu Mu’azu Maifata.

Beneficiaries were drawn from the four electoral wards Within Lafia metropolis, namely Chiroma, Gayam, Zanwa and Makama wards.

The event drew top government officials, APC chieftains, traditional rulers, and party loyalists from across Lafia LGA.

Dr. Bello said the initiative was part of the APC’s commitment to poverty alleviation and grassroots economic development in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and Governor Abdullahi Sule’s people-oriented policies.

“Today we are empowering 700 women in Lafia LGA with N20,000 each. This is not a political gimmick. It is seed money to help our mothers, our sisters, and our wives start small businesses that will feed their families and make them independent,” he stated.

He noted that women remain the backbone of the economy at the grassroots and empowering them directly translates to stronger families and communities.

“My intention is simple: to ensure that no woman in Lafia goes to bed hungry because she has no capital to trade. If 700 women succeed, 700 households succeed. And when households succeed, Nasarawa State succeeds.”

He urged the beneficiaries to use the money judiciously, avoid diversion and remain loyal to the APC administration by voting all its Candidates in the 2027 general elections especially the Governorship Candidate Sen. Ahmed Aliyu  Wadada.

The APC Chairman pledged that his leadership will continue to roll out similar schemes across the 13 LGAs of the state.

On his part, the Commissioner of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs Hon. Aminu Mu’azu Maifata who co-sponsored the programme, described it as “timely and impactful” and lauded the partnership.

“As Commissioner for Local Government, my duty is to ensure development gets to the grassroots. This partnership with our Party Chairman shows what is possible when government and party work together,” Maifata said.

He explained that the choice of women was deliberate because of their proven record of prudence and multiplier effect in the economy.

Speaking separately,  the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political matters,  Hon. Abdullahi Angibi, Special Adviser Government House Mohammed Abubakar, State APC Secretary Yairus Dagusa and former APC Legal Adviser Barr. Mohammed Elegu Usman lauded the donors for using their offices to impact positively on their constituents and called on other political office holders to emulate them.

Some beneficiaries expressed appreciation to Dr. Bello and Hon. Maifata for touching their lives positively and promised their loyalty always.

The Women promised that the funds would be used for the intended purpose.