Deputy Chief Whip of the Kwara State House of Assembly Hon. Maryam Yusuf Aladi, on Saturday again, held a mega empowerment for over 1000 downtrodden and artisans in her constituency.
Tagged “Iwosan Tesiwaju 4.0 Mega Empowerment”, the multi-million naira initiative took the forms of cash and material support for women and youth in the Ilorin South Constituency.
Items distributed included food stuff, sewing machines, solar powered fans, hair dryers, grinding machines, washing machines, and welding machines, among others.
Top attendees included the Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Salihu Danladi and other state parliamentarians; Commissioner for Tertiary Education Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu; Chairmen of Ilorin West, East and South Local Governments, royalties and some party leaders.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Aladi said the programme was aimed at giving back to her constituents to lift them out of unemployment and poverty, adding this was the fourth of its kind.
She explained that the social safety net gulped at least N50 million for different categories of the beneficiaries.
“Out of these beneficiaries, over 500 widows received N10,000 cash with food items each, while another set of 300 constituents got between N50,000 and N20,000 each as support from my constituency,” she said.
Thanking Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for giving her the opportunity to serve the people, the donor implored the recipients to use the bounties for the intended purposes.
She also appreciated all participants and the party faithful for contributing to the success of the event.
“Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is a man of honour. He is my mentor, my father, and the man behind my success. My prayer for him is for him to live long and reap the fruit of his labour,” the lawmaker said.
Danladi, for his part, described Aladi as a fellow who takes joy in giving succour and uplifting the lives of petty traders and the poor.
Represented by Hon Seun Oguniyi, the Speaker urged the beneficiaries to use the items for original purposes and in a way that will change their lives for better.
State APC Chairman, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, said Hon. Aladi is a good representative of the party, who he noted has consistently demonstrated that genuine leadership is rooted in selfless service and deep community impact.
Fagbemi, who spoke through the Special Assistant to Governor on Political matters, Suleiman Abubakar Sai Kai, said with the empowerment initiatives for traders, artisans, youth and women, her efforts continue to deliver tangible benefits across communities.
Other dignitaries in attendance were Balogun Alanamu Ilorin, Dr Usman Abubakar Jos; Balogun Fulani, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku; former House of Reps member for Ilorin East/South Fed. Constituency, Alhaji Wahab Issa; President, Kwara Artisan Congress, Alhaji Jimoh Adeshina; and Iyaloja General, Kwara State, Alhaja Muyibat Olumo.
[12/21, 12:24 AM] +234 703 722 7165: CAF Confirms Major Calendar Change for AFCON
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be staged every four years after the 2028 tournament, marking a major change to the continent’s flagship football competition.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe made the announcement at a press conference in Morocco following a meeting of the organisation’s executive committee.
Under the new format, the four-year cycle will begin after the 2027 and 2028 editions, meaning the first tournament under the new schedule will take place in 2032. CAF said the competition will also be aligned with the European Championship and held in the same year.
AFCON has traditionally been held every two years since 1968, a schedule that has often brought it into conflict with European club competitions, with clubs reluctant to release players mid-season.
Mr Motsepe said the change would help align African football more closely with the global football calendar.
“We have the most exciting new structure for African football,” he said. “The global calendar has to be more synchronised and harmonised.”
CAF also announced plans to launch an African Nations League in 2029. Mr Motsepe said the new competition would provide an additional and more consistent source of revenue for African football, alongside AFCON, which remains CAF’s biggest financial driver.
“Every year, the best African players competing in Europe will return to the continent to play,” he said, adding that the Nations League would feature all 54 African nations and deliver a “world-class competition” annually.
In addition, CAF said the prize money for the AFCON winners has been increased from $7m to $10m, as part of efforts to strengthen the commercial value and sustainability of African football.