General News
THE Kebbi State Government has approved additional N450 million to ‘Nigeria for Women Project’ to enable the scheme cover all the 21 local government areas of the state.
Alhaji Babale Umar-Yauri, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) disclosedvthis in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday.
NAN recalls that “Nigeria for Women Project” is a World Bank, Federal Government of Nigeria and Kebbi State Government tripartite support programme designed to improve the welfare of women.
NAN also report that Kebbi state is one of the six states of the federation implementing the project as a pilot scheme in three Local Government Areas of Maiyama, Ngaski and Argungu.
Umar-Yauri said in view of the successes recorded so far, the World Bank and the Federal Government agreed to extend the programme to all 36 states of the federation.
He said: “In Kebbi State, the project will be expanded to all the 21 local government areas subject to the fulfillment of specific criteria.
“Kebbi State has fulfilled all the requirements for its expansion to the remaining local government areas including additional counterpart fund of N450,000,000.00.
“The counterpart fund of N450,000,000.00 will enable the state to expand the project to the remaining 18 local government areas.”
The SSG enumerated some achievements of the project to include identifying up to 79,941 women groups as against the initial target of 54,000 groups, out of which 36,056 women were paid a total of N1.97 billion grant directly into their accounts.
“The project has an initial target of 54,000 women groups but was able to record up to 79,941 groups out of which 36,056 women were paid a total of N1,972,320,000 grant directly into their accounts, while the remaining 42,365 will get their own grant subsequently.
“This enabled petty traders among them to diversify their businesses. It is also worth noting that these women had set a fund where they contribute money to assist their members in improving their businesses. So far, N579,876,076 is in the account.
“It is based on these and many other achievements of the project over the years and in consideration of its target group, the women, that His Excellency, the Governor of Kebbi State considered that activities of the project should be extended to all the 21 local government areas for maximum benefit of women across the state,” he said.
Umar-Yauri explained that the N450 million additional counterpart fund approved by Gov. Atiku Bagudu was meant to facilitate success of the project.
“This singular intervention reaffirmed the commitment of His Excellency, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu’s administration to women empowerment through sound economic and social policies in the state,” he said. (NAN)
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Tags: Abubakar Atiku Bagudu Atiku Bagudu Babale Umar-Yauri World Bank
