2,400 Constituents, SMEs Benefit from Speaker Abbas N360million Financial Grants
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon.Abbas Tajudeen has empowered 2,400 members of his Zaria Federal Constituency with financial grants to support their businesses.
Out of the 2,400 beneficiaries, 800 of them were sponsored by the Speaker to acquire skills at the Zainab Shamsuna Ahmad Vocational Training Centre, Amaru, Zaria. Each of them received the sum of 250,000. The second set of beneficiaries comprised 1,600 business owners, who got the sum of 100,000 each.
At the disbursement programme, which took place at the Filin Nasara Stadium in Zaria on Friday, Speaker Abbas said the disbursement of the financial grants was part of his resolve to empower his constituents in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said, “Today’s programme is a continuation of our commitment to inclusive empowerment. 800 beneficiaries will receive N250,000 each for training and skills development across various vocational areas. In addition, 1,600 beneficiaries will receive financial grants of N100,000 each to strengthen existing businesses and support new economic ventures.
“These interventions are structured to respond to real needs within our communities. Across Zaria, families are striving to build sustainable livelihoods in the face of economic pressure.”
He said the disbursement was to build on earlier efforts, which “reflects continuity of purpose and deliberate planning. Our goal has always been to move empowerment from isolated activities to a coordinated development strategy that grows with the needs of our people.”
He added that women and youth remain central to his empowerment programmes, noting that “This constituency cannot prosper without their full participation in economic life. The training and financial support provided today are intended to strengthen confidence, encourage enterprise, and create long-term value.
“Today’s interventions also align fully with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. The Renewed Hope Agenda is built on economic reform, job creation, social investment, and inclusive growth. Its objective is to rebuild confidence in the economy and ensure that prosperity reaches all regions of the country, including the North-West.
“As difficult reforms are undertaken at the national level, it is essential that citizens experience the benefits at the grassroots level. Programmes like this bridge national policy and local development. They ensure that economic recovery is felt not only in statistics but also in daily living conditions.”
He added that as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, he would continue to work with his colleagues to pass laws, strengthen oversight, and support policies that promote growth, security, and stability.
“At the same time, I remain firmly committed to translating national leadership into constituency development.
“Zaria remains at the centre of my political responsibility. Every intervention we execute here reflects a belief that representation must deliver results. Our people deserve opportunities, not promises. They deserve continuity, not uncertainty. They deserve leadership that understands their struggles and invests in their future.
“This empowerment programme is therefore part of a broader vision. A vision of a Zaria where young people are skilled and employable. A Zaria where women-owned businesses thrive. A Zaria where agriculture, trade, and craftsmanship generate sustainable income. A Zaria that contributes confidently to the growth of Kaduna State and the Nigerian economy.”
Speaker Abbas urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the financial grants, saying, “Invest productively. Apply the skills you acquire. Grow your businesses. Support one another. Let the impact of this programme be seen in improved livelihoods and stronger communities.
“To our party leaders and stakeholders, I thank you for your mobilisation, your guidance and your loyalty. Your role in strengthening grassroots organisations remains vital. Political stability and development must move hand in hand.
The future of Zaria is one of opportunity, growth, and shared prosperity. With unity, discipline, and sustained effort, we will continue to move forward.”
In a remark, the representative of the governor of Kaduna State, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, said the Speaker has kept to his promise of continuous empowerment of his constituents.
Senator Hunkuyi, who is the commissioner representing the North West at the National Assembly Service Commission, added that the people of Zaria are blessed to have the Speaker as their representative, saying he has brought unprecedented development to Zaria and beyond.
There were goodwill messages from personalities present, including the National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (North-West), Hon. Garba Datti Muhammad; Chairman of the North West Development Commission, Alhaji Lawal Samaila Yakawada; Honourable Chief Commissioner of the Public Complaints Commission, Alhaji Bashir Abubakar; and Chairman of Zaria Local Government, Engr. Jamil Ahmad Muhammad.