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No fewer than 1,176 artisans across Etsako Federal Constituency in Edo State have received empowerment tools under a programme facilitated by a member of the House of Representatives, Anamero Dekeri (APC-Edo).
The distribution, which took place in Okpella on Wednesday, focused on equipping beneficiaries with practical tools to strengthen their trades and improve their sources of income.
The beneficiaries were drawn from the three local government areas in the constituency — Etsako East, Etsako West and Etsako Central — with many of them having undergone training in hairdressing, agriculture, mechanics and welding before receiving starter packs.
Items distributed included sewing machines, deep freezers, hair-drying machines, welding machines, farm chemicals, sprayers and other agricultural tools. Members of the Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) were provided with complete mechanical and electrical tool boxes to support their daily operations, while welders received full welding equipment. Alumaco workers were not left out, as they were given specialised tools for glass cutting.
Speaking during the presentation, Dekeri said the initiative was designed to enhance the skills of constituents and promote self-reliance through vocational empowerment.
He stressed that democratic governance must translate into tangible benefits for the people, warning that democracy would lose its credibility if it fails to improve livelihoods.
According to him, the programme is part of broader efforts to ensure that residents of Etsako Federal Constituency are economically empowered across various trades.
“I have no other business at the National Assembly than to serve your interest. Whatever I need to do to ensure that all that belongs to Etsako Federal Constituency gets across to us, I will do it,” he said.
The lawmaker added that the empowerment drive would not be a one-off intervention, disclosing that another large-scale programme was already in the pipeline and expected to be delivered before the end of the year.
Dekeri also acknowledged the role of political leaders, ward chairmen and other stakeholders across the constituency, noting that their support had created an enabling environment for impactful initiatives.
Beneficiaries, who expressed appreciation for the intervention, said the tools received would immediately improve their productivity and income.
Some of them described the lawmaker as a representative focused on practical impact rather than political rhetoric, citing consistent interventions in education and economic support.
They noted that initiatives such as the sponsorship of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees for students in the constituency had reduced the burden on families and ensured that many students sit examinations with their peers.
The beneficiaries also pledged continued support for Dekeri, stating that his approach to representation had directly improved lives across the constituency.
