Kaduna, Nigeria – For Halima Ibrahim, a petty trader in Sokoto, the daily struggle to keep her shop running was a battle against high energy costs and dwindling profits. In Kachia, Kaduna State, farmer Musa Ali’s failing eyesight made even simple tasks a challenge.
This month, their stories — and those of thousands like them — took a turn for the better. Free medical services, prescription glasses, and ₦50,000 business grants have reached communities long overlooked in the fight against poverty. In some cases, beneficiaries also received solar kits, cutting their reliance on costly fuel and improving business efficiency.
These interventions came through the Youth in Business for Seyi Tinubu programme, a grassroots drive that recently served over 2,000 people in Kaduna and Sokoto States. In addition to treating illnesses and distributing medication, the programme empowered 1,000 small business owners — 500 in each state — to expand operations and increase earnings.
Community members say the difference is already visible. “I can see clearly now, and my sales are picking up because I don’t spend all my profits on electricity,” Halima shared.
Grassroots Mobilisation Initiative (GMI), which coordinated the outreach, says such targeted aid blends immediate relief with long-term sustainability — exactly what vulnerable regions need. “This is not charity for the cameras. It’s strategic empowerment,” said GMI National Coordinator Samaila Musa.
As the beneficiaries move from survival to stability, community leaders hope this approach can be scaled to reach more parts of Northern Nigeria, turning individual success stories into a regional transformation.
