The Kwara State Government has commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for supporting a livelihood empowerment programme that will provide motorcycles, tricycles, vocational training and entrepreneurship support to 970 vulnerable Nigerians in Kwara State and the Federal Capital Territory.
The state government gave the commendation on Sunday during the official distribution of motorcycles and tricycles under the Transformative Skills and Livelihood Empowerment Programme, funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and implemented by the Abubakar As-Siddiq Philanthropic Home in Ilorin.
The Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, while speaking at the event, described the intervention as a life-changing initiative that aligns with the state government’s efforts to reduce poverty, promote self-reliance and stimulate socio-economic development.
He said the programme goes beyond the distribution of assets by creating sustainable sources of income for vulnerable residents.
“This initiative goes beyond distributing assets; it is about restoring hope, promoting self-reliance and creating sources of livelihood for the vulnerable members of our society.
“It complements the efforts of the Kwara State Government under the leadership of Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on youth empowerment and socio-economic growth,” Alabi said.
He urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the motorcycles and tricycles, describing them as tools for financial independence and community development.
“I encourage the beneficiaries to make good use of this opportunity. Let these assets become tools of productivity, financial independence and positive impact in your communities,” he added.
Alabi reaffirmed the state’s commitment to collaborating with development partners to implement programmes that improve the welfare and livelihoods of residents.
“On behalf of the Governor and Government of Kwara State, I appreciate our development partners for their continued support. I assure you of our commitment to collaborations that improve the lives of our people,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Social Development, Mariam Nna-Fatimah, described the intervention as another milestone in the government’s drive to tackle poverty through sustainable empowerment rather than short-term assistance.
She said the initiative was designed to equip vulnerable Nigerians with vocational skills, entrepreneurship training and livelihood support to enable them to become economically independent.
“The greatest form of empowerment is not what we give people, but what we enable them to become. This occasion represents another significant step in our efforts to reduce poverty, promote economic inclusion and provide sustainable livelihood opportunities for vulnerable persons in our society,” the commissioner said.
According to her, beneficiaries in Kwara State were selected through referrals from care homes and outreach programmes conducted by the Ministry of Social Development to ensure the intervention reached deserving individuals.
“For this programme, beneficiaries were carefully selected through referrals to the ministry from care homes and through outreach to vulnerable individuals on our streets, ensuring that this opportunity reaches those who genuinely deserve it,” she said.
Nna-Fatimah commended Abubakar As-Siddiq Philanthropic Home for sustaining its humanitarian interventions in the state, recalling that the organisation had previously distributed food items, vocational kits, motorcycles and tricycles to vulnerable residents.
“I am genuinely happy to know that this initiative continues to expand. The foundation has done a lot to support the people, just like last year, including tricycles, motorcycles, food items, kitchen utensils and many other skills acquisition and vocational kits,” she said.
She advised beneficiaries to maintain the assets properly and use them to improve their livelihoods.
“These motorcycles and tricycles are more than assets; they are opportunities to earn a decent living, support your family and contribute positively to society. I encourage you to use them responsibly, maintain them properly and let them become tools for building a brighter future for yourselves and your communities,” she said.
Earlier, the President of Abubakar As-Siddiq Philanthropic Home, AbdulRazzaq Salman, described the programme as another milestone in the organisation’s efforts to restore dignity and expand economic opportunities for vulnerable Nigerians.
He said the initiative, funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, extends beyond the distribution of motorcycles and tricycles and includes vocational training in tailoring, fashion design, catering and hospitality, information and communication technology, shoemaking, leatherworks, photography and videography.
According to him, beneficiaries will also undergo entrepreneurship and business development training before receiving starter packs and equipment to establish sustainable businesses.
“Our philosophy throughout this project has remained simple: humanitarian assistance should not merely respond to immediate needs; it should create lasting opportunities. It should equip individuals with the skills, confidence and resources to build better futures for themselves and their families,” Salman said.
He explained that all beneficiaries were selected through a transparent assessment process to ensure that the intervention reached those most in need.
“Every beneficiary was carefully screened through a transparent and objective assessment process designed to ensure that opportunities reached those who genuinely needed them most. This commitment to fairness and accountability reflects the values shared by both ASPH and our donor, KSrelief,” he said.
Salman thanked the Kwara State Government, particularly the Ministry of Social Development, for supporting the implementation of the programme, saying the partnership had strengthened community engagement and contributed significantly to its success.
He also acknowledged the Federal Road Safety Corps for providing road safety and operational training for beneficiaries receiving motorcycles and tricycles.
“The motorcycles and tricycles being presented today represent far more than means of transportation. They represent economic opportunities. They represent livelihoods. They represent hope for families who can now earn sustainable incomes with dignity,” Salman said.
He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to transparency, accountability and excellence in implementing humanitarian programmes while expressing appreciation to KSrelief for supporting vulnerable communities in Nigeria through sustainable development initiatives.
