The Chairman of Taura Local Government Council in Jigawa State, Hon. Shuaibu Hambali, has unveiled a wide-ranging empowerment programme valued at over ₦250 million, aimed at improving livelihoods, enhancing skills acquisition and strengthening social welfare across the local government area.
The initiative, which aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the 12-Point Development Agenda of Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, is regarded as one of the most comprehensive grassroots empowerment drives in the state.
The programme cuts across key sectors, including economic empowerment, education, healthcare, housing, safety and human capital development.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, Hon. Hambali said the intervention was designed to translate the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible benefits for ordinary citizens, while complementing Governor Namadi’s people-centred policies focused on poverty reduction, inclusive growth and sustainable development.
Under the economic empowerment component, the council distributed 43 motorcycles, 190 sewing machines to youths trained in tailoring, and 180 pasta-making machines with 180 bags of 10kg flour as start-up support for women beneficiaries.
In addition, 50 grinding machines, 31 welding machines, 20 water pumps for farmers and 20 generators for phone-charging businesses were provided.
Women’s empowerment featured prominently, with frying equipment for akara (bean cake) and kosai distributed to 60 women, while 15 wheelchairs were presented to persons living with disabilities.
The council also disbursed cash grants to stimulate small-scale businesses. Beneficiaries of vocational skills training received ₦100,000 each, while 100 Fulani women engaged in milk trading were supported with ₦10,000 each. Motorcycle riders’ (okada) associations in the 10 wards of the local government also received ₦30,000 per ward.
In the area of human capital development, 40 residents were trained in electrical installation and maintenance, while 10 others underwent training in welding and fabrication, in line with the administration’s emphasis on employability and skills acquisition.
Hon. Hambali further disclosed that the council constructed four houses for vulnerable persons, two houses for new converts and two houses for vulnerable political actors. He also announced the donation of a plot of land to an Islamiyya school in Taura, reinforcing the council’s support for faith-based and community education.
To enhance safety in riverine communities, 200 life jackets were distributed as part of accident prevention and emergency response efforts.
In the education sector, the council distributed 8,000 exercise books to primary school pupils, 15,000 lesson plan books to teachers across the Taura Local Government Education Authority, and 15,000 Primary School Leaving Certificate booklets. One thousand cartons of chalk were also supplied to primary schools, while 191 temporary teachers under the T-Teach programme were registered.
Further demonstrating its commitment to education, the council awarded scholarships to 78 students whose studies are fully sponsored at tertiary institutions, including the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Kazaure and Nguru, Aminatu College and the Police College.
In healthcare delivery, the council sponsored free hernia surgeries for 50 patients and free eye surgeries for 60 others. A total of 25,000 diagnostic cards were distributed free of charge, while ₦7.45 million was spent on medical bills for 21 critically ill patients referred to Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital.
Community leaders and beneficiaries commended the chairman for what they described as people-focused leadership, noting that the initiative reflects the spirit of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Namadi’s 12-Point Agenda, which prioritise social welfare, human development and inclusive governance.
They expressed optimism that such grassroots-driven interventions would accelerate socio-economic development and strengthen public confidence in government at all levels.
