4th cycle of KT-CARES grants and inputs, Malumfashi

Let me start by expressing my profound gratitude to Allah, The Most High, for granting us the privilege of being alive today to witness the official flag-off ceremony of the 4th Circle of the NG-CARES Programme in Katsina. I also wish to communicate to all of you for being here with us to witness and celebrate, yet another turning point in the history of our administration under the NG-CARES Programme.

In accordance with the aims and objectives of the NG-CARES Programme, which began in 2021, we domesticated the programme and renamed it Katsina CARES (KT-CARES). Plans and strategies were put in place accordingly to mitigate and cushion the negative effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic and as well mobilize communities for development, promote human capital development activities and address some of the socio-economic challenges that, are bedeviling our citizens, especially the poor, vulnerable and exclude members of our society.

I am therefore happy to inform you that, implementation of KT-CARES Programme in Katsina State has offered us ample opportunities to provide the dividends of democracy to the citizens. We have implemented many pro-society projects that allowed the beneficiaries to express their opinions and utilize their capacities to improve their wellbeing through community driven development strategies. We have provided assets and inputs to farmers to boost agricultural production and economic status of the recipients. The programme also supported livelihood activities, offered IT enhancement tools and business operational grants to hundreds of thousand beneficiaries in Katsina State.

In brief, ladies and gentlemen, the State Government has expended the total sum of N9,200,431,270.54 (Nine Billion Two Hundred Million Four Hundred and Thirty One Thousand Two Hundred and Seventy Naira Fifty Four Kobo) in the KT-CARES Programme recording the following success under the first, second and third circles. They are:

• Disbursement of Livelihood Grants of N50,000.00 each to 9,316 beneficiaries across the State.
• Gave Support to over 1,920,000 citizens in 160 communities to provide basic development services in their localities, ranging from construction or rehabilitation of schools, hospitals, drainages at an average of N12,000,000.00 per community.
• Supported 23,800 farmers with agricultural inputs and assets to facilitate and promote agricultural productivity, which will in turn sustain grassroots agricultural value chain as well as improve the socio-economic prospects of the State. Some of the inputs and assets distributed are: day old chickens, fish fingerlings, power tillers, threshers, hammer miller, ground nut extracting machine, etc.
• Disbursement of business operational financial grants and IT enhancement support, including training, to over 3,835 beneficiaries.

It is significant to point out here that, about 90% of these achievements were recorded during my administration giving that, when we assumed office, the programme was lying low, with no activity at all throughout the second circle because of lack of funding. We rejigged the programme and injected substantial funds that breathed life into the programme. We brought Katsina from the last performing State to the first 10 best performing States.

Ladies and Gentlemen, today’s event is yet another pivotal activity in our journey for the transformation and inclusive development on Katsina State. Our commitment in this regard is real and derived by the conviction of our hearts to be accountable and make a difference in the political arena, where political actors are believed to be liars.

Thus, in the name of Allah, The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful, I am pleased to flag-off the 4th Circle of the KT-CARES Programme, where:

• 65 Communities will receive cheques of between N11,000,000.00 to N2,000,000.00 as grants to implement various community-initiated projects based on their socio-economic development needs and aspirations.
• 3,600 poor and vulnerable individuals and, or households will be supported with Debit Cards as Livelihood grants to assuage their socio-economic challenges.
• 4,095 SMEs will be given business/skills operational grants for entrepreneurial development of between N100,000.00 to N500,000.00 each.
• 19,068 farmers will receive agricultural inputs and assets, which include day old chickens, fish fingerlings, thrashers, power tillers, hammer millers, groundnut extraction machines, solar water pumps, etc.

The total amount committed in this pro-poor endeavor is N3,955,420,486.35 (Three Billion Nine Hundred and Fifty-Five Million Four Hundred and Twenty Thousand Four Hundred and Eighty-Six Naira Thirty Five Kobo) only.

As we launch this disbursement circle, we are not unaware of the potential and innovative capacities of the benefiting individuals and community leaders to implement projects of high quality that will address their conceptualized pressing needs.

We recognized the power of the people, not only at the polling unit, but in their capacity to think for themselves and act for themselves. We believe in and uphold their rights to self-esteem, to be engaged and consulted. This is why we initiated and launched the Community Development Programme, where all the community stakeholders; the village leaders, Youths, women, religious leaders, etc will have space to air their views and take part in their community development activities. We also have many other social protection activities in SEMA, Ministry of Women Affairs, Girl-Child education Programme, etc where support is given to hundreds of thousands needy beneficiaries.

I have reiterated my conviction at several fora that, governments exist only for the governed. We shall therefore continue to sustain our engagement tempo with you, in order to serve you better. We shall be guided by our vision in the “Building your Future Blueprint” to build a Katsina State where every citizen, regardless of his/her background or social standing is engaged and supported to pursue his/her dream for the collective good of the State.

I therefore wish to implore all the beneficiaries of these support gestures to make proper use of them. But, they should bear in mind that, I have directed the KT-CARES operating teams to ensure adequate follow-ups periodically through monitoring and evaluation to assess the extent to which these supports are improving the lives of the beneficiaries.

Conclusively, I want offer my sincere appreciation to all of you here, and all the citizens of Katsina State for the support and confidence you have on our stewardship. These give us courage and grease our elbows to do more.

I thank you very much indeed for listening.