By Fatima Zahra Muhammad
ASHENEWS reports that the Kebbi State Government has distributed the sum of N200 Million Grant to 2,000 beneficiaries across the state under the KB – Cares Livelihood Grant Program.
Speaking while flagging off the exercise on Monday in Birnin Kebbi, the State Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar said the program was part of efforts by the state government to make the people self-reliant.
“The Deputy Governor said, considering the dangers of idleness among the youths in the present-day society which has subjected able-bodied persons to poverty, hunger, and living in squalor due to lack of trade, the present administration will come up with intervention programs to make people gainfully employed.
“He appealed to the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grants to set up meaningful trades that will support them and hopefully employ others in the near future,” a statement issued on Monday by Press Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, Murtala Gotomo said.
On her part, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Aishatu Usman said the livelihood grants were part of the second phase of the program which 2,000 vulnerable and poor persons across the 21 local government areas are set to benefit.
Similarly, the State Coordinator of Kebbi Cares Programme, Rukayya Bawa said the CARES as a loan to the state government approved by the House of Assembly was designed to ensure maximum impact across the areas of intervention in the state.
Rukayya recalled that in June 2022 Kebbi CARES distributed fertilizers of over N2.4 billion to farmers, cash transfers, and livelihood grants of over N500 million to the poor and vulnerable in the state.
She added that water schemes were converted to solar power, feeder roads, and more classrooms were also constructed in towns and villages across the state under the program which is supported by the World Bank.