NIGERIA. Niger State: Nigeria for Women Project is a strategic World Bank program developed in conjunction with the Federal Government to assist women and improve their socioeconomic position.
The governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani Bello, flagged off the first phase of grant distribution to beneficiaries in Gawu Babangida, Gurara local government area, saying the distribution marked the beginning of disbursement of funds to three local government areas in the state that made up the Senatorial zones of his states, namely Agaie, Gurara, and Wushishi local government areas.
Bello went on to say that the project sought to help women advance in their respective fields. He also assures the people of the state that the administration would continue to support the targeted recipients’ lives and enterprises through the payment of counterpart money.
“I am very sure the befitted women will make judicious use of their funds to better the lives of their families and that of their immediate community. I, therefore, urged them all to invest the funds properly for what it is made for,” Bello said.
Bello, on the other hand, praised the State Project Coordinator, Alhaji Sarki Bello, and the Federal Government for recognizing Niger State as deserving of assistance and beginning such an “amazing project”.
Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister of Women Affairs, also spoke during the flag-off ceremony, revealing that President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration initiated the project through the World Bank to assist women in terms of their businesses and how to plan for a better life with improved socio-economic status.
Tallen went on to say that since the initiative’s inception, it has taught, empowered, and linked women to improve their livelihood options through the formation of Women Affinity Groups.
“232 women are to benefit from the first batch of the disbursement receiving N60,000 each, while 875 are expected to benefit in the second batch of the grant which will take off in no distant time,” Tallen noted.
Tallen, as a result, lauded women for their enthusiasm and dedication to attaining the project’s objectives. She also assured the women of her Ministry’s commitment to improving the lives of all women across the federation.
The benefiting states
Mrs. Ruth Mshelia, the National Coordinator of Nigeria For Women Project, stated that the program is aimed at women in six states across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Niger State benefits from the North Central, Taraba from the North East, Kebbi from the North West, Abia from the Southeast, and Akwa Ibom from the South-East and South West.
Mshelia added that 52,000 women from Niger state will benefit from the initiative out of 239,526 persons targeted for the whole of the six states.
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