The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF), in collaboration with the Jigawa State Government, has provided poultry starter kits to 200 women to support their livelihoods.
Each beneficiary received 20 Noiler birds, a bag of poultry feed and medication after undergoing training under the Empower-Her Poultry Project.
Adetola Oniyelu, Project Manager of the BATN Foundation, disclosed this on Thursday at the inauguration of the project at the Jigawa State Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (JARDA), Dutse.
Oniyelu, who represented the foundation’s General Manager, Oludare Odusanya, said the beneficiaries were selected from rural communities and trained in Noiler production.
He said the foundation would provide follow-up support, awareness programmes and capacity building to help the beneficiaries sustain their poultry businesses.
Ali Ahmad-Ali, Executive Officer of AHALSON General Enterprises Ltd., the implementing organisation, said the firm had implemented about six projects, four of them in Jigawa.
He noted that the project was being implemented through centres in Dutse and Hadejia, covering neighbouring local government areas.
Muhammad Sa’idu, Chief Executive Officer of Amo Farm Sieberer Hatchery, said Noiler birds were selected because they could withstand heat and required relatively low feeding costs.
He explained that the dual-purpose birds, which produce both meat and eggs, could support food security, improve nutrition and provide an income source for the beneficiaries.
Earlier, Hadiza Abdulwahab, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Jigawa, urged the beneficiaries to treat the birds as productive assets and manage the initiative as a business.
Muttaka Namadi, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jigawa, commended the initiative and called for collaboration, transparency and sustainability to make the project replicable.
Nura Ado, Director of NGOs, Ministry of Planning and Budget, Jigawa, said the intervention was aimed at helping women achieve greater economic independence and support their families.
The project was sponsored by the BATN Foundation and implemented by AHALSON General Enterprises Ltd. in collaboration with the Jigawa State Ministry of Planning and Budget.
