It was jubilation galore in Kano on Saturday as no fewer than 4,064 indigenes benefitted from a mega empowerment programme rolled out by the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud.
The beneficiaries, drawn from the 44 local government areas of the state, went home with cash, food items, motorcycles, fertilisers, grinding machines, working tools, tricycle wheelchairs and six vehicles.
The exercise, which targeted APC women leaders, vulnerable persons and low-income earners, turned into a carnival-like event as excited beneficiaries hailed the minister for what they described as an unprecedented gesture.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mahmoud said the programme was aimed at promoting self-reliance and restoring dignity to families struggling with economic hardship.
“Women are the backbone of our homes, communities and even our political structures. When you empower a woman, you empower a nation,” she declared.
She explained that the intervention aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially in the areas of women inclusion, youth empowerment and social welfare.
Throwing her weight behind the initiative, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Halilu, said Mahmoud had demonstrated that human capital development remains a top priority of the present administration.
Former House of Representatives Majority Leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa, added a dramatic twist, revealing that the empowerment was funded from the minister’s personal resources.
“No government funds were allocated for this. She dipped into her personal purse to support her people. That is sacrifice,” Doguwa said.
Meanwhile, the event also took a political turn as the Chairperson of the occasion, Prof. Hafsat Abdullahi Ganduje, appealed to former governors Abdullahi Ganduje and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to sheath their swords for the peace and progress of Kano.
“They are not just political leaders, they are brothers. Kano needs unity now more than ever,” she pleaded.
Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, APC women leader Hajiya Fatima Dala described the empowerment as the first of its kind in the state.
“We have never seen this level of support before. The minister made sure genuine people benefited,” she said, urging others to use the items wisely.
For many families across Kano, Saturday was not just another day it was a day hope returned.
