-Muhammad Garba
Governor of Jigawa State, Malam (Dr.) Umar A. Namadi, FCA, has described the empowerment initiative executed by the Chairman of Taura Local Government Council as fully aligned with the policies and development agenda of both the Jigawa State Government and the Federal Government.
The Governor made this remark while leading the official launch of a large-scale empowerment and economic support programme for over 1,000 beneficiaries in Taura Local Government Area.
Governor Namadi, who attended the event as the Special Guest of Honour, formally flagged off the distribution of empowerment items and welfare support initiated by the Chairman of Taura Local Government, Hon. Shuaibu Hambali Zarga, as part of efforts to uplift the socio-economic wellbeing of the people at the grassroots.
The ceremony, held on Wednesday evening in Taura, brought together community leaders, beneficiaries and government officials, marking a significant milestone in grassroots development within the local government area.
Speaking at the event, Governor Namadi stated:
“What the Chairman of Taura Local Government has done today is in line with the policies and development blueprint of the Jigawa State Government as well as that of the Federal Government.”
He stressed that such interventions directly support the broader economic reform agenda of the administration by promoting self-reliance, job creation and poverty reduction.
Massive Distribution of Empowerment Items
As part of the programme, a wide range of empowerment items were distributed to beneficiaries across different sectors. These included 43 motorcycles, 190 sewing machines for youths trained in tailoring, 180 pasta-making machines, and 180 bags of 10kg flour provided as start-up capital for women engaged in pasta production.
Other items distributed were 50 grinding machines, 31 welding machines for artisans, 20 water pumps for farmers, and 20 power generating sets for phone charging businesses. In addition, 30 women each received equipment for bean cake (akara) frying and kosai production, while 15 wheelchairs were distributed to persons living with disabilities.
Financial Support and Skills Training
The programme also featured direct financial assistance, with beneficiaries trained in various vocational skills receiving ₦100,000 each as start-up capital. One hundred Fulani women engaged in milk trading were supported with ₦10,000 each, while Okada (commercial motorcycle) associations across the 10 wards of the local government received ₦30,000 per association.
In the area of capacity building, 40 youths were trained in Electrical Installation and Maintenance, while 10 others received specialized training in Welding and Fabrication, further strengthening local skills development.
Housing, Safety and Social Welfare Interventions
As part of its social welfare component, the initiative delivered four housing units to vulnerable individuals, two houses to recent converts, and another two houses to politically vulnerable persons. A plot of land was also donated to an Islamiyya school in Taura.
To enhance safety in riverine communities, 200 life jackets were distributed to residents of areas prone to water-related accidents.
Strong Focus on Education
Education received significant attention under the programme. A total of 8,000 exercise books were distributed to primary school pupils, while 15,000 lesson plan books were provided to teachers across Taura Local Government Education Authority. Another 15,000 Primary School Leaving Certificate booklets and 1,000 cartons of chalk were also supplied to primary schools.
Furthermore, 191 temporary teachers under the T-Teach programme were registered, while 78 students received full educational sponsorships covering tuition and training at institutions including the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Kazaure (19 students), School of Nursing, Nguru (29), Aminatu College (17), and Police College (13).
Healthcare Support for the Vulnerable
In the health sector, the programme provided free hernia surgeries for 50 patients and free eye surgeries for 60 individuals. Additionally, 25,000 diagnostic cards were distributed at no cost to residents. The local government also spent ₦7.45 million to cover medical expenses for 21 patients referred to Rasheed Shekoni Teaching Hospital for advanced treatment.
Commendation and Call for Replication
In his remarks, Governor Namadi commended Hon. Shuaibu Hambali Zarga for what he described as a people-centred and impactful initiative. He noted that the programme aligns with the development priorities of the Jigawa State Government and the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Governor emphasized that vocational skills, entrepreneurship and small-scale enterprises remain critical pillars for sustainable economic growth and poverty alleviation.
He concluded by calling on other local government chairmen across the state to emulate the Taura model, urging beneficiaries to utilize the support judiciously to improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to community development.
