A member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Okene-Ogori/Magongo Federal Constituency of Kogi State, Rt. Hon. Ahmed-Tijani Yusuf Damisa has empowered about 3000 youths and women and farmers in his constituency with different types of entrepreneurial skills.
Damisa who only last month to this month empowered peoples of his constituent with different skills, he equally supplied and installed solar power panels to electrify Okengwe Cemetery and Idoji ward junction along Auchi Road, Onyukoko in Okene local government area of the state, said the empowerment will be in batches as he expects that each beneficiary will be empowered with seed fund to start off their businesses.
It feels good always to see those that have braved all odds to accomplish great feats; to excel in their chosen careers in spite of the asphyxiating Nigerian socio-economic environment. And it is equally good to make reference to them as a way of encouraging others to aspire for success especially in this era when our youths are regarded as lazy. It is exciting to know that when our youths are regarded as lazy, there are some among them who are hyperactive and high-flying. Of course it is encouraging to know that in the contemporary Nigerian environment where some folks wait idly for short cuts and easy money and patronage, there are some who have achieved tremendous success by sheer courage and hard work.
Among the courageous politicians who has distinguished himself in politics is Rt. Hon. Ahmed Tijani-Damisa who recently launched a series of empowerment programs for the youth and the vulnerable members of his constituency. He is a renowned social/youth activist. He was one time councilor of Onyukoko ward, He was also one time Special Assistant on Youth Matters to the former Governor of Kogi State and an incumbent member of the National Assembly; Chairman House Committee on the Federal Executive Territory and Ancillary Matter. He had worked in several house committees at Green Chamber; he pioneered, sponsored and supervised the execution of many youth related capacity-building projects. Right from his university days at Kogi State University, he was known for youth activism. He has always identified and fraternized with the youth.
Apart from
youth activism, he is also involved in philanthropy and social advocacy. He is
an apostle of positive social change—a philosophy he has espoused in different
fora. He believed that act of kindness and philanthropy is an investment in
goodwill that pays un-quantifiable dividends in the long run. He believes that
his success and happiness cannot be full till it extends to the larger society.
His philanthropy goes beyond his constituency Okene-Ogori/Magongo Federal
Constituency to the neighboring local government and every environment he finds
himself.
He has sponsored many projects both within and outside his immediate constituency. He has sunk community boreholes, paid school fees for brilliant indigent students to continue their education and paid medical bills for people among other acts of philanthropy. He equally provides learning material to school across his constituency aside the classrooms he built in Nuru-Islamic Primary School; Okene Local Secondary School, Ohina, Standard Primary School, Onuyukoko, Ebira Community Secondary School, EMCO, Okengwe etc. He has creatively designed many commendable programmes for youth empowerment in his constituency. He made multi-million Naira donations of food items to his people as palliatives for the COVID-19 pandemic including free eye medical outreach for people of Okene/Ogori/Magongo Federal Constituency.
His accomplishments and philanthropy since he starts his political journey has won him many accolades.
Of particular interest to me is his passion and programme for youth empowerment. In his address delivered at the launching of his youth and women empowerment program this year, he stated that there is low national productivity in the country because the youths have not been motivated enough to contribute their quota to the development of the nation. He believes that youth empowerment holds the key to the motley of problems confronting the nation. He is of the view that youth empowerment will reduce crime, social vices, gangstarism, cultism and even advanced free fraud.
Sometime in the past, he had muted the idea of establishing Youth Development Trust Funds to empower youths with special talents to realize their dream. He was of the view that if the youths are the leaders of tomorrow as it is oft-said, then they should be adequately prepared and empowered for tomorrow leadership.
BY: Comrade Adabara Abduljelil El-Okene