Dogara empowers 526 petty traders, artisans in Bauchi
The Speaker House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has handed out cash to 526 petty traders and artisans to boost their income.
The speaker who interacted with the traders in five towns along Bauchi-Tafawa Balewa road said that he supported them with the cash gifts to boost their businesses.
The Speaker was accompanied by his wife Gimbiya Dogara and the member representing Misau/Dambam Federal Constituency of Bauchi State Hon Ahmed Yerima.
The towns the Speaker visited are Zwall, Burgel, Kagadaman Dass, Maraban Liman Katagum and Kadagi.
Malam Adamu Dan Ningi, a meat seller at Maraban Liman Katagum, said: “The Speaker came to my stand and asked me the price of a sheep, I told him N20,000, he then gave me N20,000 and told me to use it and boost my business. I will use it to buy another sheep.”
Another beneficiary, Sabo Abdullahi said: “The Speaker gave me money to support my business. I am 37 year old now I have never seen an elected leader walking from traders shop to shop, table to table empowering them with money to boost their capitals including small hawkers.”
Abdulhamid Shuwa who also benefitted from the Speaker’s gesture, said that he was the fourth person to be assisted with the money.
“It has been said that if you are patient one day Dogara’s gesture will reach you. We have heard several stories about how generous this honourable gentleman is, and what he did is the true spirit of democracy,” Shuwa said.
On his part, Hamisu Burgel, a local rice miller said the money given to them will help them to boost their business and increase their income.
Some of the 526 women and men got cash ranging from N100,000 after receiving training and skills acquisition in various fields especially in the agricultural value chain.
Dogara has been an advocate for the creation of small scale businesses and empowerment programmes in order to tackle extreme poverty and hunger at the grassroots.
He had said democracy cannot thrive amidst poverty and that hunger, poverty and violence are threatening Nigeria’s democracy.