Damaturu - In our quest for economic empowerment, job creation and self-reliance for personal income generation for our citizens - we have in the last three years executed several empowerment and skill acquisition projects to fast-track our recovery programme, enhance sustainable means of livelihood and the general economic advancement of our people and state.Buni made the disclosure while launching of the empowerment support to small medium scale enterprises in Damaturu.He said, "as part of our empowerment drive, we have procured 100 units of Toyota ‘Avensis’ brand cars at a total cost of Four Hundred and Sixty-One Million, One Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand Naira [N461,125,000.00] to be offered on loan to 100 beneficiaries at a subsidized rate of N2 million each payable within a 2-year duration"."The Ministry of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation is hereby directed to liaise with the Yobe Microfinance Bank to work out modalities for payment by the beneficiaries of this package".Adding that, "in furtherance of the humanitarian gesture of this administration, we are distributing sewing, grinding and vulcanizing machines, among others to the less privileged to improve their livelihood. Along with these materials is another empowerment package of cash support to 400 widows, 254 vulnerable persons and 1600 small and medium-scale businessmen and women".Mala said, "Government is providing another cash support of N1,356,000,000 to 68,000 beneficiaries; all these measures are taken as part of the State recovery plan to support the less privileged and the businesses affected by the decade-long insurgency in the State". Hamisu Nguru