By Sarah NEGEDU
Over 4,064 indigenes of Kano State on Saturday, benefited from an empowerment drive led by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, in a major push to strengthen livelihoods across the state’s 44 local government areas.
The initiative targeted APC women leaders, vulnerable citizens and low-income earners, with beneficiaries receiving cash support, food items, working tools, motorcycles, tricycle wheelchairs, fertilisers, grinding machines, and six vehicles, among other materials.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mahmoud said the programme was designed to boost self-reliance and restore dignity rather than simply distribute items.
She noted that the loyalty, sacrifice and grassroots mobilisation of the women leaders and other beneficiaries had continued to reinforce APC structures in Kano.
“Women formed the backbone of families, communities, and political structures,” she said, adding that empowering a woman meant empowering an entire household and society.
According to her, “Rooted in the APC’s progressive ideals of social justice, inclusive growth, and shared prosperity, the initiative addressed economic challenges by promoting self-reliance over dependency, stimulating local productivity, bolstering household incomes, and enabling beneficiaries to contribute to economic and community development.”
Mahmoud urged recipients to see the items as tools for expanded opportunity and broader family support, saying the gesture aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on women inclusion, youth empowerment and social welfare.
Mahmoud urged stakeholders across the state to promote peaceful coexistence and work collectively for a more prosperous Kano and a stronger Nigeria.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad, who attended the event in solidarity, said Mahmoud had shown clear commitment to the welfare of her people, aligning with the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In her words, “One of the key area of priority of President Bola Tinubu is human capital development, and today’s empowerment programme by Dr Mariya Mahmoud, has shown that human capital development is also a priority to the FCT Minister of State.”
The minister urged beneficiaries to make proper use of the items “not only for their own self-reliance but that of their families.”
Former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ado Doguwa, also commended the Minister, saying her gesture was a personal sacrifice, not a government-funded intervention.
“As a lawmaker, I am aware of fund approved by the Federal Government for intervention, but I can tell you that no money was allocated for this particular empowerment. We must appreciate the Honourable Minister for dipping into her personal funds to bring succour to the people. She’s evident of how APC is always having the people’s interests at heart,” he said.
Doguwa congratulated Mahmoud for “going beyond her official mandate to empower Kano indigenes,” describing the initiative as a reflection of APC’s people-centred principles.
Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje, commended the Minister for the kind gesture saying it is a demonstration of the true spirit of the All Progressives Congress.
Prof. Ganduje who also used the occasion to sue for peace among political heavy weights in Kano State, urged former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje and his predecessor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to sheath their sword in the interest of the State.
“I must use this opportunity to remind the former governors that they are not just friends but brothers. They should please come together and support the current governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, to finish his tenure just as Rabiu Kwankwaso supported Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje to become governor and today both of them are former governors.”
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, the APC women leader in the State, Hajiya Fatima Dala thanked the minister for the gesture, particularly ensuring that a transparent process of reaching actual beneficiaries.
“We have had ministers from Kano State but we have never seen such empowerment programme in the history of Kano State. The Honourable Minister has demonstrated concern for women and vulnerable by ensuring that only those who deserve these items actually benefit from it.
“I urge other beneficiaries to please make good use if these items to be self-reliant. Let me also use this opportunity to call on other politicians to emulate the minister by empowering more women because we have the bulk vote.”
