OPINION: Is Saliu Mustapha Empowerment A Greek Gift?

By Oyewale Oyelola Malam Saliu Mustapha, a Kwara born politician and businessman in the last five years has been empowering the vulnerable persons in the society and offering support to other people to achieve their goals. Saliu Mustapha who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been consistent in helping downtrodden people, wipe tears of the poor and supporting good course through Saliu Mustapha Foundation. The foundation programmes cover Human Capital Development, Community Development, Education/Scholarship, Youth Development and Gender equality. Since the establishment if the foundation in 2017, Malam Saliu Mustapha has continued to fund the humanitarian activities singlehanded in order to create better life for less privileged in Kwara State and beyond The core loyalist of President Muhammadu Buhari established Saliu Mustapha foundation to expand his reach, put smile on people face and scope of humanitarian activities. Although, some critics have tagged the Ilorin East born politician as Greek gift and bait to get support for his political career. However, the consistency of Saliu Mustapha in act of kindness with humility could be traced to over 10 years of doing Sadaqah by reaching to the needy directly. According to the Quran, the word means voluntary offering, whose amount is at the will of the “benefactor”. In Islamic terminology, sadaqah has been defined as an act of “giving something…without seeking a substitute in return and with the intention of pleasing Allah.” No doubt, the continuation of annual empowerment programme after the political gang up against him in 2018 clearly shows Saliu Mustapha is empowering people to bridge the gap between the privileged and people are striving to achieve their dreams but lack financial strength. For records, the foundation has organized two Empowerment Programmes after Malam Saliu Mustapha’s first political outing. He purchased JAMB form for 2000 students in 2020, donates car to Ilorin Emirate council and supports many worship centres without making noise. Apart from that, the just concluded two-day (February 6-7, 2021) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Empowerment Programme for 2020 that was delayed due to ravaging COVID-19 pandemic reveals through intention of the passionate philanthropist. Imagine Saliu Mustapha tactically missing the huge platform to score political points amidst crisis rocking Kwara APC. Although, he gives tenable excuse for his absence at the event but close ally said he deliberately missed the event to taking ‘glory for what Almighty Allah is doing through him’. During the event, 75 beneficiaries get N150,000, 150 receive N100,000, 58 people were given N70,000 each, 67 small business owners get N50,000 and 27 Community stakeholders/ previous beneficiaries receive N50,000 each to strengthen their capital base. The beneficiaries were drawn from every part of Kwara state comprises artisans, traders, vulnerable persons nominated by traditional rulers/community based organizations, widows, people living with disabilities, aged, market women/men, youth and women that submitted their request to the foundation, clerics and others assessment by Saliu Mustapha Foundation MSME unit. The main motive of doling out over N40million nonrefundable grants this year is to support small business owners to boost their capacity and complement government efforts in reducing poverty in the society.