Writing By Ismai’l Adamu; Editing By Godwin Duru
A political support group, Tinubu/Dikko Assured 2027 has empowered 1,040 small scale business owners across the 34 local government areas of Katsina State to make them self-reliant.
At the launch of the program at the three senatorial zones of Katsina, Daura and Funtua, Governor Dikko Umar Radda said the initiative will go along way in encouraging youth entrepreneurship and boosting small scale businesses which form the backbone of the state’s economy.
While pledging his administration’s readiness to collaborate with TDA, the governor urged other organizations to promote job and wealth creation by supporting small businesses.
In his speech, the Chairman of Tinubu/Dikko Assured 2027, Alhaji Umar Ahmad-Zayyad, explained that 30 beneficiaries were selected from each local government area, while 50 beneficiaries were selected from Katsina local government area.
“Our aim is to boost entrepreneurship and economic growth in line with the youth empowerment objectives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Dikko Radda’s ‘Building Your Future’ agenda.
“The beneficiaries for this empowerment include 15 women and 15 young men from the local government areas. During the selection process we also made sure that the beneficiaries cut across the wards in each local government area in the spirit of inclusiveness.
“In total, we empowered 360 beneficiaries in Daura zone, 350 in Katsina zone and 330 in Funtua zone. We plan to empower more business owners in subsequent phases of the program”, Zayyad said.
While urging the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the assistance by expanding their businesses, Zayyad lauded the efforts of the federal and Katsina State governments in providing security which will encourage the growth of businesses in the state.
He explained that the movement was launched in response to widespread calls by Nigerians from all parts of the country on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to run for a second term in office as well as calls by the people of Katsina State on governor Dikko Radda to contest for re-election in the 2027 general elections.
In his remarks, the Katsina State Coordinator of TDA, Alhaji Ibrahim Khaleel, explained that the organization is currently installing solar power and investing in water supply in two science and technical secondary schools in Musawa and Sandamu.
He said TDA is building on the gains of President Bola Tinubu in the area of youth empowerment, particularly the Renewed Hope Ward Development Program which targets 10 million Nigerians, the N1 million grant for 200 youths, and the N500,000 start-up capital for beneficiaries in the informal sector.
Isma’il Adamu
