By Beauty John, LAFIA
The federal government has flagged off disbursement of fifty two million naira (N52,000,000) Cash Grant to two thousand, six hundred (2,600) Rural Women in Nasarawa state, in an effort to alleviate poverty among women dwelling in rural areas of the state.
The programme initiated in 2020 by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development commenced with disbursement of twenty thousand naira (N20,000) each, to the 2,600 beneficiaries.
The cash grant programme kickstarted on Wednesday, by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs , Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq , at the Aliyu Akwe banquet hall Lafia, the state Capital, is aimed at aiding the beneficiaries to attain sustainable livelihood.
Farouk, represented by barr. Mohammed Abdullahi, minister of state science and technology, explained that the cash grant programme was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s social inclusion and poverty reduction agenda, including the realization of the nation’s aspiration of lifting one hundred million Nigerians out of poverty in ten years.
“It is designed to provide a one-of grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural Nigeria.
She explained that the cash grant is not restricted to Nasarawa state alone, as the 36 states and the federal capital territory will benefit from the programme.
“A grant of twenty thousand naira will be disbursed to over 150,000 poor rural women across the thirty states of the federation and the federal capital territory,” she said.
In his remark, the state Governor, Engr. Abdullahi A Sule stressed the importance of women empowerment to his administration.
Governor Sule, represented by his deputy, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, said the struggle for the liberation of women from the shackles of poverty has been the desire of successful administrations in the country.
“This is based on the realization that a well skilled, informed, educated and enlightened women is an asset of immeasurable value, not only to herself, but to the family and the entire society,” the governor said.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Halima Jabiru in her welcome remark commended the federal government for the initiative.
According to her, the state considers itself lucky to witness yet another show of benevolent love and commitment of the federal government towards ameliorating the plight of its citizens, particularly those in distress and vulnerable conditions.
One of the beneficiaries of the Cash Grant, Mrs Rifkatu Babale , a widow, thanked the federal government for the cash assistance.
Mrs Babale who lost her husband in August, 2020, said that the money given to her will be channeled into her business, as she called on the federal and state government to come up with more initiatives that will uplift the poor and vulnerable in the society.
