A former National Chairmanship Aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Malam Saliu Mustapha, has empowered no fewer than 600 people in Kwara with N200 million.

The empowerment programme, which took place in Ilorin on Saturday, attracted top government functionaries, traditional rulers and people from various works of life.

The beneficiaries collected N100,000; N200,000; N500,000; N1 million and N2 million each.

The Chairman of the Saliu Mustapha Foundation, Malam Saliu Mustapha, said the 2022 edition of his empowerment programme was its 10th-year edition.

He said the desire is to create a society and community where everyone, no matter the circumstances of their birth, feels sufficiently empowered enough to cater for their daily needs and those of their families or dependants.

“While our foundation often advances financial assistance, especially to widows and the less privileged generally, we realised that in the long run what is required is to empower people in ways that they can take control of their lives and even affect the lives of those around them positively.

“This is the reason we have chosen to support those small businesses being run by youths and women, in the belief that with increased financial capacity, those businesses can grow more, increase their income and even proceed to enhance economic activities within our community.

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“While our strategy and method may not have produced billionaires yet, we assure that over the years we have been able to sustain people in their businesses, boost their capacity to scale up their profits and sufficiently feed themselves and their families.

“We at the Saliu Mustapha Foundation are very proud of their achievements because our ultimate aim is to help build a society where every single person with the talent, ability and readiness to work receives the necessary support to realise their fullest potential,” Mustapha said.

The former national deputy chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), said he is excited about the multiplier effect that his interventions, especially in the area of SME support, would have on local businesses and the economy.

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He said the foundation would continue to support the people at the grassroots to live a decent life, while he aids small and medium businesses to grow and alleviate individual/community poverty.

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who also attended the event, commended the spirited effort of Mustapha in lifting people out of poverty.

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The colourful empowerment programme also featured the performing Arts students of the University of Ilorin and some other local artists.

The event also featured the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries.