Poverty Alleviation: Gombe govt empowers 573, 429 farmers, entrepreneurs
The Gombe State government has begun the disbursement of empowerment items to 573, 429 poor and vulnerable farmers and entrepreneurs under the fourth phase of the Nigeria-COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus in the state.
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State while inaugurating the disbursement in Akko community in Akko Local Government Area of the State, restated his administration’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable citizens in the state.
Yahaya who was represented by the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in the state, Salihu Baba-Alkali said the focus of the initiative was to empower vulnerable populations of the state out of poverty.
He expressed optimism that the items being distributed if properly utilised by beneficiaries would “grossly” alleviate poverty and boost small-scale businesses in the state.
“Under this 4th Phase Implementation of G0-CARES, a total of 573,429 people would benefit directly and in-directly from the various programmes under the three Result Areas.
“Of this number, a total number of 152,429 people will directly benefit from this phase.
“While 421,000 will benefit indirectly through implementation of basic services and rural infrastructural projects in their respective communities, he said.
The governor said that the beneficiaries were carefully selected from the Social Register of the state.
He said that the beneficiaries would get cash transfer grants, livelihood grants; labour intensive public workfare, basic services; provision of agricultural inputs and assets.
Others include provision of operational grants to Nano, micro and small businesses and IT enhancement grants to ICT related enterprises across the state.
He stated that under the rural infrastructure component of the programme, some communities would benefit from projects like classrooms blocks and health care facilities.
He said that earth dams, culvert and drainages would either be constructed or rehabilitated.
Yahaya urged beneficiaries not to sell the items but to use them to improve their livelihoods and boost food security for the state and country.
For his part, Emir of Gona, Alh. Abdulkadir Abdulsalam thanked Gov. Yahaya for always supporting the poor and vulnerable, adding with such support, more persons would be empowered out of poverty.
Abdulsalam urged beneficiaries to use the items to alleviate poverty in their communities.
Our correspondent reports that the items provided include fertilizers, pesticides, and agricultural tools like pumping and sewing machines, goats, laptops, grinding machine, sewing machines amongst others.
