The Agaie Local Government Council of Niger State has empowered 1,100 residents, including widows, vulnerable households, women and youths, with business equipment to promote self-reliance and improve livelihoods.
The beneficiaries received refrigerators, sewing machines, grinding machines, barbing kits and motorcycles under an empowerment initiative organised by the council.
Speaking during the distribution, the council chairman, Sayuti Ibrahim Halilu, said the programme was designed to help beneficiaries generate income, establish sustainable businesses and provide better support for their families.
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Halilu said the initiative went beyond distributing equipment, describing it as an investment in economic independence and opportunities for residents.
“The goal is not simply to hand out equipment; it is to create opportunities for self-reliance and economic independence,” he said.
He urged the beneficiaries to maintain the items and put them to productive use, stressing that the support should become a foundation for lasting progress.
“I encourage you to see this support as an opportunity to grow, not just as a one-time benefit,” the chairman added.
The council also inaugurated a community primary healthcare centre in the Ekobadegi area as part of efforts to improve access to essential medical services.
Halilu said the facility would bring healthcare closer to residents, particularly mothers, children and older people who might otherwise face difficulties accessing medical attention.
“We want mothers, children, older persons and other residents to have better access to essential health services without unnecessary difficulty,” he said.
He urged the community to take ownership of the facility, protect it and work with relevant health authorities to ensure its effective use and maintenance.
Similarly, the council inaugurated the Governor Bago Women Multipurpose Centre to promote women's economic participation, skills development and entrepreneurship.
The chairman described women as central to family welfare and community development, noting their contributions as farmers, traders, entrepreneurs and community builders.
“Supporting women with opportunities for skills development, enterprise and participation is an investment in the future of Agaie,” he said.
Earlier, the Secretary of the Artisan Mobilisation Presidential Campaign Council, Dr Ahmed Adamu, and other stakeholders commended the chairman for the initiatives.
They described the empowerment programme as unprecedented in the area, expressing optimism that it would boost economic activities and contribute to the local government's gross domestic product.
The stakeholders urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the equipment to improve their families' welfare and contribute to society.
Some beneficiaries, who spoke with journalists, expressed appreciation to the council and pledged to use the items for their intended purposes.
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