ASHENEWS reports that the Niger State governor, Mohammed Bago has approved the release of N1 billion as a matching grant to empower 75,545 women across the State under the Nigeria For Women Project (NFWP).
This was made known in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Bologi Ibrahim.
According to the statement, the approval by the Governor was in fulfilment of the pledge made during his visit to the Hazaka Women Affinity Group in Tufa Community, in Gurara Local Government Area earlier this year.
On the projects to be executed, the statement said “Construction of 41 collective centres to serve as processing mills for the over 75,000 women registered under various Affinity Groups across Gurara, Agaie, and Wushishi Local Government Areas are at various levels.
“Out of the 41 processing mills, 32 will be for rice, 8 for groundnut and one for Shea butter.
“The Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sadiq Yusuf and the State Project Coordinator, Nigeria for Women Project, Bello Sarki inspected the ongoing construction in the benefitting Local Government Areas to ensure their completion for the launch expected to be held soon.”
The statement further noted that the centres when completed, are expected to improve the economic status of women while also contributing to food security.
To further support the women, the statement said that the governor has mandated the Ministries of Education and Humanitarian Affairs in Niger state to purchase the products processed by the women for the school feeding programme and other humanitarian services.