Former Niger State Governor, Dr Muazu Babangida Aliyu, on Thursday, advocated for peaceful co-existence of Nigerians irrespective of where they live, work and do business.
Aliyu made the call as chairman of maiden empowerment, graduation and award ceremony organised by a nongovernmental organization, Non-Stop Empowerment and Girls Education Initiative in collaboration with Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, where he said there was no need for antagonism and animosity by politicians, party faithful, religious organizations, different ethnic nationalities, groups and individuals across the country.
He said: “We are all Nigerians and we have to promote peaceful co-existence. We are all to move and be together irrespective of your background and not to instigate violence and divisions among ourselves.
“We should first see ourselves as Nigerians and also ensure we promote peace and togetherness that would enhance the expected development. Government is there to bring development and empowerment to the people.”
Meanwhile, in her remarks, wife of the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council and Founder of the NGO, Hon. Aisha-nse Adamu, disclosed that the organization had 2000 graduands from different departments they were trained on various skills in order to be self reliant and productive.
“All the grandaunts were trained in different centres including Apo, Gwagwa, Karu, Ido-Sarki, and Karmajiji, which has a colony of disable persons.
“We have trained them in ICT and computer operation, fashion and designing, catering and event management, shoe making, agriculture, and others.
“About 2000 of them are graduating today, and some will be given equipment, and we intend to give them soft loans, which we have arranged with Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria, SMEDAN, which will soon approval our proposal for them to access soft loans, and there is no loan that is free, we intend to pay the interest and is on us. They will be self reliant and will not be waiting for white collar jobs. Basically we are giving out ovens to those into event management and catering, sealing machines for those into agribusiness, make-up kits for make-up artists.”
According to her small and medium scale enterprises will access N100, 000 through SMEDAN and Bank of Industry, BoI, and we have been talking and almost there. Some need N20, 000. Before they get the loans the organization will stand in as their guarantors, while the beneficiaries would bring their own guarantors for the organization to guarantee the loan, which beneficiaries will pay the principal and the NGO will pay the interest.
The chairman of the organizing committee and supervisory counselor for education, sports and social development in AMAC, Hon. Gabriel Oluohu, in a brief chat with journalists, commended the founder for her vision for the less privileged and vulnerable in the society.
While congratulating the graduands, Hon Bravo tasked them on the need for them to use the skills acquired and grants judiciously and contribute positively to the nation’s economy.
Those present at the event include, the Senate deputy minority leader and Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the upper legislative chamber, Senator, Philip Tanimu Aduda as special guest, them chairman of AMAC, Hon. Adamu Abdullahi Candido, representative of the national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the vice chairman of AMAC, Hon Lawrence Onuchukwu, Speaker of the council, counselors, supevisory counselors, royal fathers, women leaders among others.
The high point of the event is the distribution of take off grants and working tools such as locally made ovens for baking, sewing machines amongst others. Also deserving individuals were presented with awards in recognition of their contributions and support. One of the award recipients include, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo.
