By Rita Iliya
The wife of the Governor of Niger, Hajiya Fatima Bago, on Wednesday empowered 250 petty traders and vulnerable women with N100,000 each.
Speaking during the programme in Minna, Bago said the initiative was aimed at supporting widows, petty traders and less-privileged women across the state.
She explained that the gesture was driven by compassion and the desire to give vulnerable women a sense of belonging and economic support.
“They should see this gesture as their time to receive support. This is not about campaign or election; the money is to assist the vulnerable.
“This is the beginning of more good things to come, and they should use the money to improve their livelihoods,” she said.
Bago described the programme as the pilot phase of a broader empowerment initiative targeted at women engaged in small-scale businesses.
“This is one of several humanitarian interventions designed to reach women, particularly those in small-scale enterprises,” she added.
She urged beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds to grow their businesses and improve the wellbeing of their families.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hadiza Kuta, said many of the beneficiaries were petty traders.
Kuta said that the intervention would boost women’s economic activities and improve family welfare.
“Most of the women are petty traders with capital between N10,000 and N25,000. With this support, improvement is certain.
“They should use the money judiciously,” she said.
A former Special Adviser to the Governor on Women Affirmative Action, Mrs Mary Noel-Berje, described the programme as a demonstration of compassion, inclusion and responsible leadership.
Noel-Berje said the initiative reflected the administration’s commitment to ensuring that vulnerable persons were not left behind in development efforts.
Some of the beneficiaries commended the governor’s wife for the gesture and pledged to use the funds to expand their businesses and improve their families’ wellbeing. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Bukola Adetoye/ Victor Adeoti
