Despite recession, women, youth get empowered in Kwara

INFORMAL sector remains the major driver of every economic activities and stands as an area in which majority of Nigerians make their living. The people in this critical sector of the economy engage in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME).

These business operators need incentives like financial capital, government assistance and conducive environment in order to operate at optimal level and contribute to the nation’s socioeconomic development.

However, there is economic recession in the land, serving as setback to business growth and development, just as there are job losses among Nigerians, particularly, the youth.

As a way to address the development in Kwara state, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has kicked off a N41 million empowerment for women in the state through the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and has also kicked off an N850m Community Development Programme with presentation of a N165 million to beneficiary communities in the state.

The governor, who made a symbolic presentation of N20 million cheques to beneficiaries in Ilorin, said his administration has given priority to the informal sector as a major driver of economic activities and as the area in which majority of the people are making a living.

He said the remaining balance of N21 million would be released to qualifying women in the coming month, noting that empowerment is part of his administration’s efforts to enhance the livelihoods of women.

“it is designed to assist women who are the powerful majority of the electorate and are in dire need of financial assistance to do their businesses”.

The Governor said the approach of his administration is to strengthen the informal sector, which is: the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) under which micro-credit funds are disbursed via micro finance banks to qualifying cooperative groups.

He said the first set of beneficiaries are drawn from the three senatorial districts of the state saying the decision to prioritize women was borne out of the role they played in shaping the society politically, socially and economically.

“In view of this, this government has put in place various programmes to educate, and empower women and young girls with the tools, resources and skills necessary to build productive lives for the benefit of the society”, he stated.

The Governor who expressed optimism for the repayment noted that the scheme has recorded a 75 percent repayment rate stating that women have greater incentive to utilize the funds prudently and repay on schedule.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr (Mrs) Ayinke Saka, disclosed that the state government under the first phase of the programme empowered 350 women across the 16 LGAs.

The Kwara State Government has flagged-off an N850m Community Development Programme with presentation of a N165 million to beneficiary communities in the state.

Governor Ahmed, while speaking at the project launch and cheque presentation to 41 communities in Ilorin, said that the first tranche of the counterpart-funded disbursement was released to promote all round development at the grassroot level.

Represented at the ceremony by the Chief of Staff,  Government House, Alhaji AbdulWahab Babatunde Yusuf, Governor Ahmed said the aim of the programme was to enable all the 193 wards across the state have improved access to infrastructural services that will bring about development.

Under the scheme, ward-based community associations receive N5m to implement water, education, health, energy and other micro-projects on provision of a ten per cent contribution.

He recalled that the sum of N50 million was injected into Community Development Projects in the State in 2015 with additional budgetary provision of #200 million in 2016 to consolidate government commitment to the project.

“The presence of counterpart fund of #200 million as contained in the 2016 Appropriation allowed for further draw-down of over #670 million to scale up the implementation of projects across the state”, the governor stated.

He urged the communities to make judicious use of the funds and ensure proper retirement of receipts so as to facilitate the release of the second and third tranches. The Governor stressed that his administration will continue to put in place strategies to ensure all round development in the state, especially at the grassroot level.

Alhaji Ahmed commended the State Community and Social Development Agency (KWCSDA) and the World Bank for their efforts at ensuring rural development in the state.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Wasiu Odewale said a total of 318 community micro projects have been implemented and are in use in different rural communities across the 16 LGAs in the state so far under the scheme.