Ex-footballer ,Ekene Adams empowers 220 entrepreneurs with N16m

…..commissions Empowerment Office in Kaduna

By Ibrahim HassanWuyo

Former football international, Mr Ekene Adams has set aside N16 million to be shared to business owners in Kaduna state so as to expand their businesses.

He spoke at the commissioning of his empowerment office at Chikun Local government area of Kaduna State.

According to him, the empowerment programme tagged; ” Let’s Get Empowered” is aimed at providing a lifeline to small and medium scale business owners in the State.

In the first phase of the programme, 4.5 million Naira was distributed to 45 beneficiaries ranging from the medically challenged, the sick persons and less privileged persons in need of financial support to start businesses.

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He said hat 220 from Chikun and Kajuru local government areas with genuine business enterprises in need of financial support will benefit from the N12m set aside as life support for their businesses.

While breaking the figure down, he said ” 120 persons within Chikun local government area will benefit, while 100 persons in Kajuru local government area are to get the support based on raffle draws.

Speaking during the official commissioning of the Empowerment Office at Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna, Ekene Adams, who is also the former candidate of APGA in the 2019 House of Representatives election for Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency, Kaduna State, said the decision to embark on the programme was informed by the passion to serve as the bridge for business development.

” We know that the Covid-19 pandemic ravaging the world has grossly affected means of livelihood of several Nigerians, especially the less privileged persons in the society “.

” It is against this background that I decided to use the God-given resources as a messenger to give financial support to those who already have existing businesses, but lack funds to expand and those in need of financial support to start small and medium scale business in Kaduna,” he said.

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Ekene who is popularly known as “The Youngest” explained that ” I am not doing this because of politics, but as a messenger of God, sent to help small scale business owners in Kaduna grow and achieve their desired goals “.

” God is my provider and that is why I adopted all principles of fairness and justice in deciding the beneficiaries .”

In his remarks, Special Adviser on Political Matters to Kaduna State Governor, Mr Ben Kure said, because of the enabling environment created for Hon. Ekene Adams’ businesses to thrive, he decided to give back to society.

He said the State government under Governor Nasir El-Rufai led administration will continue to create enabling environment for not only industrial and business development, but also for small and medium scale businesses to grow.

He commended Hon. Ekene Adams for the gesture and assured of government support to sustain it.

During the occasion, there was the distribution of items such as grinding machines, generators, motorcycles with cash donations to the beneficiary.

Vanguard News Nigeria

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