A member of the House of Representatives representing Ilorin East/South Federal constituency in Kwara State, Dr. Ali Ahmad has spent N10 million on youth empowerment and Ramadan gifts to his constituent members and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders.

All the 23 wards in the constituency benefited from the gesture in Ilorin, the state capital. Items distributed as Ramadan gifts included bags of rice, sugar, milk, among others.

Speaking at the event, Dr Ahmad who chairs the House Committee on Justice, added that he had empowered 120 youths in his constituency to engage in mechanised farming.

He said that each beneficiary of the scheme, which is in partnership with some commercial farmers, could make as much as N3m annually if they are serious about it.

He said the gesture was to assist the less privileged during the holy month of Ramadan, adding that the empowerment programme would contribute in reducing youth unemployment.

The lawmaker implored the beneficiaries to embrace the Ramadan fast and pray fervently for Nigeria to overcome its numerous challenges.

Two indigenes from Ilorin South and East Local Governments who were sponsored by Ahmad to learn shoe-making were presented with the working tools to effectively put the knowledge to practice to earn a living.

Said he:" We implore our people to embrace Ramadan as it has approached and to involve in fervent prayers for all the ills bedevilling our nation in current times.

"We have two empowerment programmes for the youth. We are doing it in phases, this one is for the youths. We have empowered 120 youths in a job that would fetch them between N1million and N3million a year. It is a mechanised commercial farming project in association with some commercial farmers. We have perfected the plan.

"With the 120, there would be other additional phases for others. Basically it is about commercial farming and we are trying to encourage our youths to engage in farming because this is the employer of labour. We are just leveraging on it and we thank God that it has culminated in the employment of 120 youths."

As for artisans, the legislator added that "for those who are artisans, you are seeing what we have done in the past six months.

"We engage them as a trial, as a model and it has succeeded. So, we have empowered these youths, we have given them all the implements they need to go to the market and I am sure you can see the enthusiasm of other youths. So, we would enrol more youths in this and other artisan work that can benefit them.

"The advice I have for them is that they have been carefully chosen; they have been enamoured. So, it is for them to now go to the field and you can see the quality of works they do and these shoes are very cheap.

"It is for them to go further and conquered the world so that they would now be an example for other upcoming youths. And through all these composite programmes, we can keep on to address the unemployment problem that we have."

At the event were PDP Chairmen in the two local governments, party leaders, supporters, women and youths who also got their share of the Ramadan package.

A PDP chieftain in the constituency, Alhaji Oba Bolanta, in his remarks, commended the lawmaker and urged other wealthy Nigerians to always remember the less privileged who live from hand to mouth.