One Hundred physically challenged persons on Monday received tricycles donated under the SURE-P by Kaura Local Government Council in Kaduna State.
About 270 other persons, including women received various empowerment tools aimed at curbing indolence and making the beneficiaries self-reliant.
Among the items distributed were motorcycles, water pumping machines for irrigation, clippers and hair dryers, as well as machines for grinding, knitting, sewing, spaghetti making, vulcanising and welding.
The council Chairman, Mr Kumai Badu said the beneficiaries were selected from the 10 wards of the area.
He advised them to make effective use of the items to enhance their living condition and generate employment for others.
The chairman expressed concern about the large number of idle citizens, adding that the the gesture was to empower the people to be useful to the society and take more people off the street.
“Part of the money has also gone into the provision of electricity to some communities, while new clinics have been established and old ones rehabilitated,’’ he said.
He disclosed that a bridge had been constructed to connect crisis-hit Zangang community in Attakar ward, as part of measures to open up the area.
Badu said the bridge would also afford security personnel deployed to the area, the opportunity to respond to emergencies more quickly.
He said that two new clinics, fully equipped with drugs and other essential facilities, had been constructed at Dutsen-Kagoro and Tsongje villages, to enhance access to healthcare services.
Miss Benyan Koni, one of the beneficiaries who spoke with NAN, expressed gratitude for the gesture and promised to utilise her knitting machine effectively.
“I trained in knitting a long time ago, but did not have the money to purchase a machine to start my business. I cannot believe that this machine is mine,’’ she said.
Another beneficiary, Jonathan Kushuwai, who received a sewing machine, said that he would expand his tailoring business and engage more trainees to compliment the effort of the local council. (NAN)
