The Kaduna State Government said on Wednesday, it will double its financial support to women including those engaged in cottage industries and agricultural value chain.
The Commissioner, Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Hafsat Baba made the disclosure during the 4th Kaduna State Women Economic Empowerment Summit, in Kaduna.
She recalled that N200 million was disbursed to women under the Kaduna State Women Empowerment Fund (KADSWEF) at single digit, with 10 per cent allocated to women with disabilities.
The commissioner said the government was proud of the first set of the beneficiaries because most of them were now well established and have already started repayment.
She explained that 3,000 women entrepreneurs have been visited and their trades assessed for improvement and sustainability.
“KADSWEF has recorded positive results with tremendous impact on the lives of the people of Kaduna State.
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“The disbursement was successfully made to the right beneficiaries who have since started repayment.”
Baba hailed Gov. Nasiru El-Rufai’s persistence at improving the capacity of women to meet funding requirements for MSMEs and providing more women with entrepreneurial skills, business development, management and financial literacy.
She assured that her ministry would continue to work closely with all the beneficiaries, by supporting and encouraging them to succeed in their various businesses.
“It is my hope that future phases of KADSWEF shall serve as major yardsticks for measuring financial inclusion gains and that its model shall be developed to the level of a frontline women-related social investment
program to show the economic viability of the Kaduna woman”.
In her speech, the State Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe said KADSWEF was initiated to enhance women’s access to low-interest funds and boost employment.
“The fund aims to provide more women with entrepreneurial skills, business development, management and financial literacy.
“KADSWEF brought the disadvantaged groups and the mostly poor women in the informal sector into a more organised setting by empowering them to manage themselves”.
Balarabe said it was the administration’s pursuance of inclusive development that made it listen, work and support women.
“We all have a duty to give women opportunities, provide for them meaningful access to politics and support their ability to productively participate in the economy.
“We also insist on including them at the table, contributing to the evolution and development of public policy and participating in their implementation”.
According to her, women inclusion will enable the society to benefit from the talents and energies of half of the population that is often ignored.
“Excluding women from the paid workforce, entrepreneurial opportunities and political participation amount to a society wilfully short-changing itself.”
The deputy governor, therefore, assured that the state government would support all programmes aimed at empowering women and the most vulnerable in society.
A beneficiary, Saudatu Isa who spoke amidst tears of joy, appreciated the government for the laudable initiative.
She said KADSWEF has helped her to improve the living condition of her family and many more families in the State.
“Immediately we received the funds, we started businesses and a lot of us came together to begin a weekly contribution of fifty nairas each. This token that we saved has changed the lives of our family members”.
Another beneficiary, Esther Thomas prayed for the success of the administration, stating that, many groups and clusters have doubled their capital even after refunding the loan.
(NAN)
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