No fewer than 8,000 people, including the aged on Sunday in Kwara State benefited from the empowerment scheme of the Kwara State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Demola Banu.

The beneficiaries who are from Irepodun Local Government Area of the state received 12 motorcycles and 100 bundles of Ankara(fabric).

There were also grants of N200,000 for association of artisans, N200,000 for transporters’ associations, N150,000 to women in the local government area; N150,000 to youths and N150,000 to elders, as well N200,000 monthly grant for the 11 wards in the local government.

Banu said the gesture was demonstration of his passion for the less privileged in the local government area.

The commissioner said the grant for the various associations and groups should be used as a revolving micro credit among members.

Banu said, "We are not doing it without political partisanship. We are doing it to our people because this government is for our people and not only for the party.

"That is why the people are happy with us. It is also being done to complement the empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes of Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

"We have also a fund of N500m for people in SMEs. We have disbursed N250m. If one has a good proposal, such a person can access the money from the bank with minimal charges.

"We also have a partnership with the Bank of Industry, whereby the state government contributed N250m and BoI contributed N500m making it N750m. Our people also have the opportunity to access these funds and that has been helping in poverty alleviation and employment generation."

He appealed to other privileged individuals to invest more in poverty alleviation and employment generation ventures to accelerate socio-economic development in the state.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Kayode Towoju, said he had directed all political office holders to institute poverty alleviation and empowerment programmes in their places of origin.

He urged them to emulate the poverty alleviation efforts of Banu to improve the standard of living of their communities and the entire state.

One of the beneficiaries, Sulaiman Abiodun, who spoke on behalf of others, said the scheme would assist them have a means of livelihood and thanked Banu for his gesture.