50 small-scale business owners in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa state were elated when the ‘friends of Osinbajo’ launched a one-off cash grant of N100,000 each to support business owners and the poorest in the communities.
The friends of Osinbajo, who share in the ideals and ideology of His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo, have over the years, celebrated the sterling leadership quality of the vice president who has shown progressive leadership style and support for social impact in various spheres across Nigeria.
This year, in commemoration of the vice president’s 64th birthday, friends of Osinbajo took the spotlight to Nasarawa state, where His Excellency Prof Yemi Osinbajo was in December 2020 conferred with title of ‘Madagun Jihar Nasarawa’.
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The event, which held at the palace of the emir, attracted dignitaries including Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the state Deputy Governor, and several personalities from within and outside the state, who all showered encomiums and prayed for the vice president to succeed in his endeavours.
The Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage Mohammad (rtd), who offered special prayers, prayed for the longevity of the vice president in good health, sound mind and prosperity so that Nigeria would continue to tap from his enormous wealth of experience.
“It is my prayers that Almighty Allah grants you many more years of abounding health, prosperity and enduring fulfilment, I wish the vice president very happy birthday celebrations.” the Emir prayed.
The Emir who described the Vice President as a humane, humble and detribalised Nigerian, also prayed generally for the sustenance of unity and peaceful coexistence among the diverse groups in Nigeria.
The Special Guest of Honour, His Excellency Eng. A.A Sule who was represented by the Deputy Governor Dr. Akabe welcomed the Friends of Osinbajo and also appreciated their goodwill for celebrating the Vice President’s 64th birthday with the people of Lafia.
After careful selection, the Friends of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo donated N5 million in total to 50 persons, who were mostly women across the local government areas of the state with each beneficiary receiving N100,000; this is in line with Osinbajo’s core ideology in the area of empowerment, aimed at reducing poverty among them and to enhance the socio-economic growth of the people, according to a statement issued at the end of the event.
Similarly, in alleviating the water challenges faced by four communities in Lafia, the ‘Friends of Osinbajo’ also sank four boreholes in Mararaba Akunza, Kausakuwa, Ahuma and Lafia South respectively as a way of providing potable water to the people of these communities.
Sewing machines were donated to a number of beneficiaries.
Speaking at the event, Osinbajo, who was ably represented by Malam Gambo Manzo, the Special Assistant to the Vice President on Political Affairs, encouraged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the cash grant to propel their businesses.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at empowering small-scale business owners and the poorest in the communities to become self-reliance and avoid over dependency on white collar jobs.
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