The Zamfara State First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Bello Mohammed (MON) has empowered 30,400 vulnerable women under the State Government initiated Women Empowerment Programme through her office.
Hajiya Aisha Matawalle disclosed this in Gusau on Thursday at the official launching of the new strategy for the implementation of 1800 Women Empowerment Programme under her office. “As you may recall, the administration of my husband Dr. Bello Mohammed, MON, (Matawallen Maradun) has come up with various social intervention schemes aimed at making our people self-reliant and economically productive, saying “One of these programmes, which is being implemented through my office is that of Women Empowerment.
The programme was introduced in recognition of the fact that women, in traditional societies like ours, are the most vulnerable; they suffer all forms of social, economic and political deprivations, Hajiya Aisha said.
She added that They lack access to knowledge and skills that will empower them to enjoy meaningful living, adding that despite their widely acknowledged role in consolidating our young democracy, particularly their active participation in voting process during elections, women, unfortunately, lack the voice to properly articulate their case, make their plight known and mobilize public opinion towards redressing the inequities they suffer in our societies today. She explained that, Our administration recognizes that for women to discharge their societal obligations effectively, they need to be socially and economically empowered.
Under this programme, a monthly grant of 20,000 naira is being given to each of the beneficiaries drawn from across the 14 Local Government Areas as at today, the scheme has reached over 30,000 women. The first Lady explained that More than one year since the introduction of the programme, we have done a thorough evaluation of its implementation strategy and its impact on the targeted beneficiaries.
The new strategy is aimed at ensuring sanity, transparency and accountability in the process of funds’ disbursement by giving the targeted beneficiaries the money directly the moment they are registered, she added.
I would like to use this opportunity to call on the benefitting women to make the best use of the funds so that they become self-reliant and contribute their own quota to the development of our communities, Hajiya Aisha urged. In a remark, the Secretary to the state Government, Alhaji Bala Bello Maru reiterated the state government readiness to continue initiating programmes and policies that will reduce poverty and unemployment among people of the state.
Alhaji Bala Bello commended the First Lady for her efforts to complement Matawalle’s administration in providing succor to various groups of needy in the state.
The State PDP Chairman Alhaji Tukur Danfulani represented by the State Secretary of the Party, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Dangaladima described the development recorded through various programmes initiated under the First Lady’s office as welcome development.
Danfulani described the PDP led administration in the state under the leadership of Governor Bello Matawalle as the best government that the state never had since it’s creation.
He explained that Since its inception, the PDP led Government embarked on various interventions programmes to support vulnerable groups in the state.
“We appreciate these support, we are going to continue to support and cooperate with government and First Lady’s office to continue to provide meaningful development in the state”, the State PDP Chairman explained.
The Emir of Gusau Alhaji Ibrahim Bello represented by the Senior District Head of Gusau Emirate, Alhaji Bashir Kabir Danbaba thanked the First Lady for her efforts in the fight against poverty in the state.
The Emir Prayed to Almighty Allah to continue to bless various programmes run by the First Lady for the benefit of the people of the state.
He assured the readiness of Gusau emirate council to support programmes on women empowerment, tackling unemployment and poverty among people.
In a Goodwill message, the State PDP Women Leader, Hajiya Aisha Waziri Maru thanked the First Lady for extending the gesture to women and vulnerable groups in the state.
“We thanked his Excellency for his kind gesture to women, on behalf of the entire PDP Women in the state”, Hajiya Aisha Waziri said.
The Commissioner Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Lawal Gummi appreciate various women empowerment programmes initiated by the First Lady in the state.
Gummi noted that women in the state have witnessed progress especially in the health care, education and empowerment sectors by Governor Bello Matawalle’s administration.
Earlier, the Special Adviser to Governor Bello Matawalle on Investment, also chairperson of the Empowerment program Dr Rabi Ibrahim Shinkafi said the programme is one of the good initiatives of her Excellency, Hajiya Aisha Bello-Matawalle.
She said apart from 30,400 women empowered through the programme a total of 50,000 women also benefitted from the Palliative assistance by the First Lady to reduce the effect of hardship as a result of Covid-19 pandamic.
“10,000 women also been supported with clothing materials and food items and Rams during Sallah festivities.
“We will not forget to mention Mama Kit Project and Skills Acquisition programmes initiated by the office of the First Lady programmes with thousands of women beneficiaries across the 14 LGAs of the state, she added.
