Kebbi State Government has approved an additional N450 million for the Nigeria for Women Project.
It has also extended the project to the 21 local government areas of the state.
The Nigeria for Women Project is a World Bank, Federal Government of Nigeria and Kebbi State Government support programme, designed to improve the welfare of women.
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Kebbi State is one of the 6 states implementing the Nigeria for Women Project, and the 3 local governments of Maiyama, Ngaski and Argungu are the initial local governments benefiting from it.
Due to the success of the programme, the World Bank and the Federal Government have agreed to extend the programme to all the states of the federation, and also in the 6 pilot states which include Kebbi.
In Kebbi State, the project would be extended to all 21 local government areas, subject to the fulfilment of specific criteria.
Kebbi State has fulfilled all the requirements for its expansion to the remaining local governments, including additional counterpart funding of N450m.
The counterpart funding will enable the state to expand the project to the remaining 18 local governments.
Some of the achievements of the project are as follows:-
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 women will get their grants subsequently.
This enabled the petty traders among them to diversify their businesses.
It is also worth noting that these women had set up a fund, where they contribute money, to assist 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 the Governor of Kebbi State, considered that the activities of the project should permeate the whole 21 local government areas, for the maximum benefit of women of the state.
Accordingly, and to ensure the success of the project, the Governor of Kebbi State, has approved an additional counterpart fund of the total sum of N450m.
This singular intervention reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu’s administration to women empowerment, through sound economic and social policies in the state.
(Editor : Ena Agbanoma)
