AbdulRazaq flags off fresh N200m support for 4000 Kwara artisans

• Published date: 12 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Kwara Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq on Thursday launched the disbursement of N50,000 grant each for at least 4,000 Kwara artisans to support their businesses and strengthen the local economy.

'This programme is one of our initiatives to support local industries, talents and SMEs to grow. This prevents job export, strengthens the local economy, reduces poverty rate, and improves living standards in the state,' AbdulRazaq said at the launch in Ilorin, the state capital.

'Before our administration in 2019, Kwara State did not have any structured and legally backed initiative to encourage and support local industries, self-employment, petty trading, and reduce poverty.

'History bears us witness that we are doing that already through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme. We will not drop the ball.'

The administration had in 2020 contracted the production of 500,000 facemasks to the state branch of the Nigerian Tailoring Union to curb the spread of COVID 19, apart from several other supports so far extended to the group.

AbdulRazaq said the artisans are the custodians of various skills and key drivers of sustainable economic growth, adding their inclusion in the intervention will help to encourage skills development and grow the economy.

'What we are doing today takes our policy of inclusive growth to a new height. Artisans are the custodians of various skills and key drivers of sustainable economic growth. Their inclusion in this intervention will therefore help to encourage skills development and grow the economy,' he said.

He congratulated all the beneficiaries and urged them to make good use of the grant for good impacts on the society.

In attendance were cabinet members, other officials of government; labour leaders, and party supporters, including the Acting General Manager for Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), Abdulquowiyu Olododo; Director General State APC Campaign Council Ambassador Abdulfatai Seriki and thousands of artisans.

The acting General Manager for KWASSIP, AbdulQuowiyu Olododo, said 4,000 artisans were carefully selected from 13,000 applicants across the 16 local governments, calling it another giant step toward eradicating poverty in the state.

He commended AbdulRazaq for his leadership quality, his passion for masses, and how he has been supporting the agency to thrive in its given task.

'I must commend the...