Pharmacist Abdulkareem Asuku, Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, has once again put a smile on the faces of the state’s youths through his charity organization, Pharmacist Abdulkareem Asuku Youth Empowerment Forum (PAAYEF).
Asuku, through his PAAYEF, held a graduation ceremony for the graduates of the foundation’s fashion institute on Tuesday in Lokoja, where the beneficiaries of the foundation were gifted with a business start-up seed of N100,000 (Hundred Thousands Each) and a modern sewing machine each after being trained for free.
Previously, the young medic held a school competition program that empowered students from the state’s three Senatorial zones. This is in addition to his extensive charitable work, which includes the payment of medical bills and the provision of scholarships for youngsters across different tribes and religions.
Governor Bello who chaired the occasion stated that he is proud of his Chief of Staff, noting that the pharmacist is upholding the good works of the government and the governor’s legacies.
The governor announced a sum of N500,000 (Five Hundred Thousands Naira) for each beneficiary to enable them to return to their local government areas and replicate the empowerment.
Pharm. Asuku, earlier, said that, following governor Yahaya Bello’s New Direction drive, he was inspired to start free entrepreneurship training for youths across the state.
The philanthropic gesture of the country’s youngest chief of staff is expected to drastically reduce unemployment and improve people’s standard of living, as the recipients are expected to go and expand their businesses in their various local governments, fend for their families, and employ more people around them.
Top government officials, including the Secretary General of the Staff, Mrs Ayoade Folashade Arike, and others, attended the event, which took place at the Glass House, Government House.
Meanwhile, several groups have urged the Chief of Staff to declare his intention to run in the 2023 governorship election to succeed his boss.