…. Empowers them to be self reliant, charges them to lift others as they rise
Pharmacist Abdulkareem Asuku Youth Empowerment Foundation has taken it’s empowerment program to another dimension as the foundation has trained and graduated youths across the 21 LGA of the state in the fashion industry.
Being the 5th Edition in the series, the Lead Instructor and CEO of THE-YEM FASHION, Mrs Opeyemi Bamijoko Alonge said that the program have been running for three years and four sets of trainees have been graduated before now. Alonge added that Clothing Materials, Starter Pack, Accomodation and feeding have been provided for the beneficiaries.
In Her Welcome address, the Focal Person and SSA to the Governor, Hon. Mimi Sandra Musa thanked the founder of the Foundation and Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Pharm. Abdulkareem Asuku for Identifying with the female Youths and putting smiles on their face. Sandra described the gesture of Pharm. Asuku as following the footsteps of Governor Yahaya Bello in the area of Youth Empowerment and Human Development.
Hon. Sandra appreciated sponsors both within and outside the Government who have been supporting the foundation with their resources when the need arises.
In his address, Kogi Education commissioner, Wemi Jones charged the beneficiaries to take advantage of the training and empowerment to position themselves among top entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Hon. Jones described the Governor as a man who thinks about the next generation unlike other politicians that thinks about the next election.
While delivering his speech, the founder and Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Pharm. Abdulkareem Asuku thanked the Governor for the privilege given to him to add value to humanity. He encouraged the beneficiaries to always emulate the lifestyle of the governor by extending the hands of goodness to their neighbors.
Asuku said “the only way you can give hope to the people is by empowering them. Teach them how to catch fish and don’t give them fish”. Asuku revealed that the beneficiaries were randomly selected and he had no connection or relationship with any of them before now.
Asuku said that He knows the place of women in society so he decided to start with the Ladies and has decided that the Fashion Industry being a lucrative one should be their focus. Asuku said that 21 of them started but 19 of them are graduating today.
He added that apart from the Sewing Machine and other clothing materials, a start up Capita of N100,000 and an additional transport allowance of 10, 000 will be given to the beneficiaries.
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello “in Kogi State, What we do is to touch lives and that is what we are known for”. Bello thanked the founder for touching the lives of people both within and outside the state. Bello Charged him to continue to touch lives and be an ambassador of the New Direction Government.
Bello also challenged his aides not to just be in government for themselves. He Said “Don’t be in the government only to fill your pocket, be there to impact people and empower others.
The PAAYEF graduation Ceremony took a new turn when the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello announced the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira for each beneficiary. Bello said it is for them to go back to their Local Government and replicate the empowerment by starting strong from the Grassroot. He charged the beneficiaries empower people who wi add value to the society.