Yusuf Bakare
Kwara State Commissioner for Finance and Planning, Mrs Florence Oyeyemi has called on public spirited members of the society to cultivate the habit of assisting and empowering women and youth.
Oyeyemi made the call while speaking with newsmen shortly after the presentation of Palm Nut Cracking Machine to the Black Soap Makers in Odo-Owa in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of the State.
She explained that the empowerment was done in line with vision and mission of the administration of Mallam AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq on ease of doing business and to empower women and youth.
She noted that the government will soon establish Cottage Industries in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the State to boost local businesses.
The Commissioner explained that, about two months ago, she got wind of the difficulties facing the old women when cracking palm nuts on a well-worn mortar in the process of making black soap through a publication a colleague in the state Cabinet shared with her and decided to help them with a machine that they can enjoy some comfort while doing their business.
She said that, before now, the women were extracting substance from palm nut with the use of hand thereby making the process to be very strenuous and time consuming hence her intervention to donate a palm nut cracking machine for that same process for them to make it more easier and faster.
She advised the beneficiaries to form a cooperative society and donated undisclosed cash as revolving fund, saying that the proceed from it should be used to service and maintain the machine.
Also speaking, the House of Representatives member representing Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun and Oke Ero Federal Constituency, Hon. Raheem Ajuloopin who commended the Mrs Oyeyemi for what he said was a laudable effort.
He noted that he would copy the idea and replicate it for his constituents.
Ajuloopin explained that the empowerment program is in line with several other programs of the Federal Government to empower youths in the country and made donation of a sum of N200,000 to be added to the revolving fund for the women in their cooperative society.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke at the event expressed their deepest gratitude for empowering them and also prayed for blessings and strength for the commissioner .
