The Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, on Thursday, launched the disbursement of N50,000 grant each for at least 4000 artisans to support their businesses and strengthen the local economy in the state, a government house statement has said.

AbdulRazaq said the artisans are the custodians of various skills and key drivers of sustainable economic growth, adding that their inclusion in the intervention would help to encourage skills development and grow the economy.

“What we are doing today takes our policy of inclusive growth to a new height. Artisans are the custodians of various skills and key drivers of sustainable economic growth. Their inclusion in this intervention will therefore help to encourage skills development and grow the economy,” a statement signed by the governor's spokesperson, Rafiu Ajakaye, said.

“This programme is one of our initiatives to support local industries, talents and SMEs to grow. This prevents job export, strengthens the local economy, reduces poverty rate, and improves living standards in the state.

“Before our administration in 2019, Kwara State did not have any structured and legally backed initiative to encourage and support local industries, self-employment, petty trading, and reduce poverty.

“History bears us witness that we are doing that already through the Kwara State Social Investment Programme. We will not drop the ball.”

The administration had in 2020 contracted the production of 500,000 facemasks to the state branch of the Nigerian Tailoring Union to curb the spread of COVID-19, among others.

He congratulated all the beneficiaries and urged them to make good use of the grant for good impacts on society.

While speaking, the acting General Manager, Kwara State Social Investment Programme, AbdulQuowiyu Olododo, said that 4,000 artisans were carefully selected from 13,000 applicants across the 16 local governments.

He commended governor AbdulRazaq for his leadership quality, his passion for the masses, and how he has been supporting the agency to thrive in its given task.

“I must commend the effort of our visionary, committed, and prudent leader, His Excellency Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who, without him, we wouldn't have been able to come this far,” he said.

The President, Kwara State Artisans Congress, Alhaji Jimoh Adeshina, commended the governor's leadership style and how he has been supporting the local artisans in various ways.

He said the current grant of N50,000 each for 4000 artisans was unique and will make a great impact in the lives of the recipients.

“We should be thankful to God for the gift of Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq. The Governor has fulfilled all the promises he made to Kwara artisans during the 2019 campaigns. Importantly, the Governor fulfilled his promise to patronize us if elected to power,” he said.