The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) has empowered 350 women and youths in Jega and Kalgo Local Government Areas of Kebbi State with vocational skills training and empowerment items to alleviate poverty.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony held separately in Jega and Kalgo yesterday, the Permanent Secretary, Kebbi State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Hajiya Aishatu Usman, commended the NPA for the kind gesture.
Usman urged other organisations, philanthropists to emulate the NPA to assist the less privileged to acquire skills and become self reliant.
She said that the gesture was timely and a right step in the right direction.
Usman enjoined the beneficiaries to make use of the items to become self reliant in order to assist others in the nearest future.
Also speaking, the District Heads of Jega and Kalgo, Alhaji Arzika Bawa-Jega and Alhaji Haruna Jada-Bashar, urged well meaning individuals to redouble efforts in assisting the less-privileged.
They called on the beneficiaries to take advantage of the gesture to become self relaint.
While commending the NPA for the gesture, the traditional rulers described human development as a path to curbing the scourge of poverty and unemployment amongst the people.
The Marafan Jega, Alhaji Abdullahi Bawa, said the NPA acting Managing Director, Alhaji Muhammad Bello-Koko, deemed it fit to assist in human development to complement government’s efforts in poverty alleviation.
In his remarks, the representative of the General Manager, Corporate and Strategy, NPA, Ali Garba-Bichi, said the gesture was part of the organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme to Nigerians.
Garba-Bichi said that about 175 persons from each of the two LGAs would benefit from the gesture.
He enjoined the beneficiaries to always pray for peace and socio-economic development of the country.
Items distributed included; sewing, grinding and water pumping machines.