By Abdallah el-Kurebe
Kebbi state governor, Abubakar Bagudu inaugurated the disbursement of empowerment grant to 3,746 women beneficiaries with a view to improve their livelihoods.
The women, operating under “Women Affinity Groups”, are benefiting from the Nigeria For Women Project, which is funded by the state and federal governments, as well the World Bank.
The captured Kebbi women will receive an average of N26,000 from the total grant of N96,413,190 for 823 beneficiaries in Maiyama, 1,876 in Argungu and 1,047 Ngaski local governments of the state.
The governor explained that the women project attracts $15 million to be implemented in six states of the federation, with one state selected from each of the six geopolitical zones .
According to him, women in Kebbi state had mobilized over N400 million and organized themselves in clusters.
“At the end, more than 18,000 women will benefit from the project and it will enhance lots of women.
“It involves the organization of women to learn and support each other, to make it sustainable.
“I am also hoping that the project will be implemented in all the 21 local governments of the state,” the governor explained.
He said the grant is meant to support and strengthen women as well as boost their socio-economic activities, adding that his administration was enjoying a cordial relationship with the legislature which has been giving it all necessary support.
The governor appealed to political and religious leaders to ensure the involvement of their wives to bolster the project.
He commended the State Steering Committee led by the deputy governor, Samaila Yombe, who is its Chairman and all stakeholders for the success of the program.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Paulen Tallen who was represented by the Director ommended the efforts of the governor in ensuring the successes of the programme.
Represented by Hamisu Koko, Director, Special Duties, Tallen said that the federal and Kebbi state governments had taken bold measures to secure funding from the world bank.
She stated that the programme, which has trained, empowered and connected women to enhance livelihood opportunities through “Women Affinity Groups” and access to bigger markets, was meant to improve the socio-economic livelihoods of the benefiting women and improve access to markets.
According to her, the project has a total of 11,305 Women Affinity Groups (WAGS) nationwide, a total membership of 240,717 women and 3,746 beneficiaries from Argungu, Maiyama and Ngaski local government areas of Kebbi, whose business plans had been approved and were paid on Monday.
“Argungu has 1,876, Maiyama 823 and Ngaski 1,047, beneficiaries.
“These women will receive a total of N96,413,190 million. This is the first batch of this disbursement and we are grateful to everyone for the support,” Tallen said.
The National Coordinator of the Programme, Ruth Peter also lauded Bagudu for providing the needed moral and financial support. “It aims to improve the socioeconomic status of women and better their lives and those of their respective families.”
She commended Kebbi women groups for their hard and team work toward the actualisation of the program in the state.
In earlier remarks, the Chairman of the State Steering Committee and State Deputy Governor, Samaila Yombe said the program was designed to improve the livelihood of targeted communities in Nigeria with Kebbi as one of the benefiting states.
He said the program was also designed to address gender inequality, poverty, empower women.
He commended the state governor for providing enabling environment for the implementation of the project and urged benefitting women groups to utilize the money well.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Women Affairs, Aishatu Maikurata advised the beneficiaries to use the grants judiciously in order to boost their business and not to see it as gifts.
