Agency Report

The Bauchi Sate Government has disbursed N75 million worth of economic strengthening equipments to 1,000 youth and women in Dambam Local Government Area of the state.

Gov. Bala Mohammed stated this at the inauguration of the distribution exercise of the items on Wednesday in Dambam.

Mohammed said the items were provided under his administration’s empowerment scheme tagged: “Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme (KEEP).”

He said that the gesture would be extended to the 20 local government areas in the state, adding that it was meant to improving the economic status of the beneficiaries.

In her remarks, Hajiya Sa’adatu Kirfi, Commissioner for Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, said the programme was designed to provide opportunities to the youths to engage in productive activities and become self-reliant.

Kirfi said that over 10,000 beneficiaries had so far benefited from the programme in 10 of the 20 local governments areas of the state.

She listed the councils to include Gamawa; Zaki, Darazo, Ganjuwa, Bogoro, Tafawa Balewa, Itas-Gadau, Jama’are, Dambam and Misau.

While urging the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the items, Kirfi said that the state government had achieved appreciable progress in the implementation of programmes aimed at mitigating impact of COVID-19 pandemic on businesses.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the items included 60 sewing machines, 50 motorcycles, three buses, 25 grinding machines, 87 goats to pastoralists among others.

NAN