The Adamawa State Poverty Alleviation and Wealth Creation Agency (PAWECA) says more than 200,000 residents have received ₦50,000 each under the Fintiri Business Wallet initiative aimed at supporting small and micro businesses across the state.
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PAWECA Director General, Dr. Michael Zira, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by officials of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) to the agency in Yola on Tuesday.
Zira said the agency was also moving to strengthen its empowerment and skills development programmes through a partnership with FIIRO, noting that the collaboration would help expand opportunities for residents in different vocational trades.
According to him, PAWECA and FIIRO share similar goals in promoting self-reliance, entrepreneurship and economic growth.
“We have trained thousands of graduates in various trades and empowered more than 200,000 beneficiaries with ₦50,000 each through the Fintiri Business Wallet programme,” he said.
He described the visit by the FIIRO delegation as timely, adding that it aligns with the state government’s newly approved “From Retirement to Wealth” initiative introduced by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
Zira explained that the programme is designed to help retiring civil servants establish sustainable means of livelihood after leaving active service.
“The partnership will allow us to complement each other’s efforts and deliver more practical results for the people,” he added while urging both institutions to begin formalising the collaboration.
Speaking earlier, FIIRO Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Ajani Sakirdeen, said the institute identified PAWECA as an important partner in advancing industrial research, skills development and local production.
He said FIIRO’s activities include identifying and developing local raw materials, upgrading food and agro-allied processing technologies, and supporting local manufacturers through technology transfer and consultancy services.
Sakirdeen also commended Zira for what he described as his commitment to public service and wealth creation initiatives in Adamawa State.
The proposed partnership is expected to focus on training, enterprise development and technology-driven empowerment programmes for residents across the state.
