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From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has declared open a five-day pilot empowerment training programme aimed at improving the socio-economic well-being of low-income earners.
The initiative, a collaboration between the Nasarawa State Government and Interweave Solutions International, a reputable international organization headquartered in Utah, USA, will equip 50 participants with essential entrepreneurial skills and financial grants to enhance their livelihoods.
Declaring the programme open at the Conference Hall of the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Lafia on Tuesday, Governor Sule, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting self-reliance and economic independence.
“The Nasarawa State Government is proud to collaborate with a reputable international organization like Interweave Solutions to bring about positive change in the lives of our low-income earners,” he stated.
“This programme is proof of our administration’s commitment to empowering our citizens and providing them with the necessary tools to break the cycle of poverty and thrive. Since I assumed office, this is my first youth empowerment engagement, and I am confident that the impact will be far-reaching,” he added.
Hon. Kwanta Yakubu further noted that Governor Sule is expected to attend the closing ceremony on Saturday, March 15, 2025, where he will personally issue certificates of participation and financial grants to beneficiaries.
Participants will undergo training in entrepreneurship, financial management, and business development. Upon completion, they will receive the Master of Business in the Street (MBS) certification and qualify for financial grants to start their own businesses.
Speaking at the event, the State Director of Interweave Solutions International, Engr. Louise Gyunka, commended the transparency and commitment of Governor Sule’s administration.
“The governor’s policies are people-oriented and transformative. This programme is a step towards lifting citizens from poverty to prosperity,” she said.
She revealed that Interweave Solutions has committed an initial N500 million as grants for beneficiaries, with the possibility of increasing the amount based on business performance.
Participants will be grouped into cooperatives of ten members each and will be required to submit business proposals to access funding in tranches. The grant disbursement will be supervised by both Interweave Solutions and the state government.
The pilot scheme will serve as a foundation for a larger empowerment programme that will accommodate 3,500 participants across the 147 electoral wards in the state.
Dignitaries at the event included the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Haruna Kasimu Idris; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth and Students’ Affairs, Rt. Hon. Shuaibu Sani; and Director of Youth Development at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Haruna Viba, among others.
A key highlight of the ceremony was the electronic data capturing of participants, which was transmitted to Interweave’s global headquarters for monitoring and supervision.
