The lawmaker representing Southern Kaduna at the National Assembly, Senator Sunday Marshal Katung, has provided empowerment items to over 500 youth and women engaged in entrepreneurship training across the eight local government areas of his district.

The distribution, which took place in Zonkwa on Monday, saw beneficiaries go home with refrigerators, generators, and industrial sewing machines, all aimed at expanding small-scale businesses and boosting self-reliance.

The intervention was reportedly coordinated by the Senator through the National Centre for Agricultural Mechanisation (NCAM) and was officially executed by Simon Arabo, the Director General of the now-defunct SMK 2023 campaign organisation, who represented Senator Katung at the event.

Speaking on behalf of the Senator, Arabo said the program was targeted at young people and women already engaged in productive ventures but in need of essential tools to grow their businesses.

He emphasised that the selection process transcended party lines to ensure fairness and inclusivity, noting that the beneficiaries should consider themselves fortunate to have been chosen from among thousands who had hoped to benefit.

He urged them to make good use of the items and, in turn, impact others in their communities.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Distribution Committee and former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Gideon Lukas Gwani, commended Senator Katung for prioritising youth and women empowerment.

He noted that the transparent and non-partisan process was a deliberate effort to ensure that genuine entrepreneurs, regardless of political affiliation, benefited from the initiative.

In his goodwill message, the PDP Zone 3 Chairman, Mr. Danjuma Akuso, praised Senator Katung’s leadership, emphasising its people-focused approach.

Akuso further tasked the beneficiaries to see themselves as ambassadors of the senator by using the items productively and speaking well of the development-oriented projects reaching the grassroots.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Hajiya Maimuna Adamu from Jema’a Local Government Area expressed deep appreciation to Senator Katung, noting that the industrial sewing machine she received would greatly enhance her tailoring business and enable her to meet the increasing demand of her customers.

Also, Mohammed Zakaria from Kachia Local Government Area, who equally received an Industrial sewing machine, said the gesture would significantly boost the efficiency of his shop, reduce downtime caused by erratic power supply, and open doors for him to take on bigger contracts.

The beneficiaries prayed for the senator’s continued success, noting that his interventions were already transforming lives and businesses across the senatorial district.