The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has distributed empowerment materials to residents and people with disabilities (PWDs) in the council as part of the 2023 empowerment scheme in AMAC.
Speaking at the event Thursday in Abuja, Maikalangu said the empowerment materials were part of his commitment to enhance productivity and discourage laziness among youths.
He said: “I want to use this medium to encourage our youth to engage in meaningful venture in order to earn legitimate wealth that will stand the test of time. It is better for us to work very hard, have good name and earn respect than spending our time in wasteful ventures.
“As part of our strategy in this one year in office, the council is determined to encourage those youths who are willing to put in extra effort in legitimate ventures. You may recall that, recently, the council distributed fertilizer and other agricultural input to our farmers in order to boost their farm production.
“Today, we are distributing sewing machines, shovels, rakes, clippers, exercise books for the LEA Primary Schools, wheel chair tricycles, crutches, air pressure machines, footballs, jerseys and table tennis boards. All these empowerment materials must not be diverted or sold. They must serve the purpose they are meant for; in order to engage our youths in meaningful ventures.
“It is unfortunate that urban renewal policy of the FCT made it very difficult for us to have recreational centers but we will continue making passionate appeal to the FCTA of our expedient need for recreational centers,” he said.
Blueprint reports that items distributed to PWDs were 20 sewing machines, 12 wheel chairs (tricycle), 30 crutches, 12 air pressure machines, 24 sets of jerseys (football), 12 sets of training bio, 48 match balls, 20 wheel barrows, 50 shovels, 50 rakes, 25 barber clippers, exercise books for L.E.A, and 3 table tennis board for three town hall in AMAC.
Also speaking, the Special Assistant to the Chairman on Disability Matters, Mr Wakili Kaura Joseph, said that Maikalangu was moved by the pathetic situation of the PWDs as many of them were crawling round the council without assistive devices, which prompted the intervention.
