No fewer than 300 unemployed youths from Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo were on Monday empowered with different business items for self sustenance.
Mr Peter Akpatason, the lawmaker representing Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, distributed the items to the beneficiaries at Igarra, headquarters of the council area.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the items include: motorcycles, tricycles, hair-driers, sewing machines, grinding and block molding machines.
Akpatason said that the gesture was to reduce the level of unemployment in his constituency.
He said the beneficiaries had before now, undergone between three months and six months of intensive skills’ acquisition training in various trades.
The lawmaker said the beneficiaries were carefully selected from across the wards in the constituency, saying that the selection process was free from discrimination.
“It is my covenant with my constituency to represent them well at the national assembly and do well for my constituents through implementation of my constituency projects.
“I will seize every opportunity at my disposal as a Federal lawmaker to bring the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of my people,” he said.
He also assured members of his constituency of adequate representation and initiating economic-driven bills at the national assembly that would enhance their living standards.
Akpatason promised that, “In the next couple of months, youth unemployment, empowerment and qualitative education of our pupils will be given priority in order to secure their future.”
The beneficiaries commended the lawmaker, saying that the items would go a long way in ameliorating the poverty situation in the community.(NAN)