Market women and men in Kwara State under the auspices of the Kwara State Association of Marketers (KWAM) have adopted the State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, as their governorship candidate in the next year gubernatorial election.
The marketers, led by the President- General of Market Women Associations of Nigeria, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu – Ojo , the State Presidents of KWAM, Alhaji Tunde Jimoh, and Alhaja Adenike AbdulRaheem Lambe, respectively, announced the adoption in their separate remarks at the inauguration of the pioneer executives of the marketers’ umbrella body in Ilorin, the state capital, on Monday.
While commending the initiative of the state government in bringing all market women together, Mrs. Tinubu-Ojo said the governor’s developmental programmes have positioned him in deserving of a second term in office.
The State President of KWAM , Alhaji Jimoh, and his female counterpart , Alhaja Lambe, said the governor’s developmental and empowerment programmes for the informal sector were unprecedented, thus he should have a second term in office.
Governor Ahmed who had earlier announced the approval of N100million micro credit fund to members of the State Marketers Association with an appeal that the beneficiaries should use the funds for their businesses and not default on the repayment schedule, said his administration had disbursed N1billion to over 50,000 small business owners in the state since 2012.
He added that the revolving loan scheme was to spur the informal sector into playing more critical roles in the state economy.
The governor recalled that his administration had earlier extended N100million loan facility to members of the State Artisans Congress.
He however promised that his administration ” will not relent until a significant number of our people are uplifted through our various life transforming intervention.”
According to the governor, “ We have shown you what we can do to make your lives better and ask you to stand with us so that we can do more for you, our people.”