The Leke Abejide Foundation has launched an N600 million empowerment programme for women and widows in Kano to support small-scale businesses and promote economic self-reliance.
Newsextra24 reports that the foundation belongs to the member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, representing Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State.
The program, tagged “Yoruba Community Political Mobilisation and Empowerment”, has the theme “To Mobilize One Million Votes for the Re-election of President Bola Tinubu in Kano in 2027.”
Speaking at the event, Abejide described Kano as his second home and the foundation of his success, saying the intervention was part of his commitment to giving back to the state.
He said the initiative was designed to improve livelihoods, promote cooperation among ethnic associations and expand access to business capital.
The items distributed included bags of rice, clothing materials, cash and other relief materials.
He urged beneficiaries to support President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf in the forthcoming elections.
Abejide said the foundation had set aside N500 million interest-free loans for women, particularly widows and businesswomen, to strengthen their trading activities.
The lawmaker said the foundation had reserved N100 million to support widows in the state.
He explained that beneficiaries had been organised into cooperative societies according to their respective business interests to ensure effective monitoring and repayment.
According to him, the initiative covers Yoruba women from Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara states, as well as Ebira, Igala and Bassa communities from Kogi residing in Kano.
He said the foundation had also provided food items, clothing and financial assistance to widows, adding that the support would be sustained beyond the election period.
“The programme for youths and men in business will also commence soon, particularly to support unemployed youths to become self-reliant,” he said.
On political mobilisation, Abejide said the foundation was working towards galvanising support for Tinubu and other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
“We are picking Coordinators for each polling unit among the widows and women who are benefiting today to guard our votes across Kano state,” he said.
Abejide urged beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously, saying monitoring mechanisms had been established to ensure accountability and minimise loan defaults.
He said the foundation had implemented similar initiatives in parts of Kogi for over eight years, including free WAEC registration for over 50,000 students and support for about 10,000 widows.
Abejide reaffirmed his commitment to mobilising support for APC candidates contesting senatorial, House of Representatives and state assembly seats.
The lawmaker expressed optimism that the programme would achieve greater success in Kano, which he described as the commercial hub of Northern Nigeria.
In his remarks, Gov. Kabir-Yusuf commended Abejide for the empowerment and urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the package.
He encouraged them to reciprocate the gesture by coming out en masse to vote for President Bola Tinubu and other APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
Kabir-Yusuf said Kano remained home for all Nigerians and urged residents to continue pursuing their legitimate businesses and live in peace with one another.
The governor announced a donation of N100 million to support the project.
The Oba Yoruba Kano, Murtala Alimi-Otisese, commended the lawmaker for the gesture, which he said would greatly improve livelihoods.
He also urged the beneficiaries to vote for President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Kabir-Yusuf in the forthcoming elections.
Newsextra24 reports that former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello, other political leaders and representatives of various ethnic groups graced the occasion.
