Katsina govt distributes N5,000 to 1,400 women as empowerment

The Katsina State Government has started disbursing N5,000 each to 1,400 women as part of its efforts to empower women and youths in the state.

Dr Badiyyah Mashi, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs,  disclosed this in Daura on Monday when she launched the fourth batch of the cash disbursement to beneficiaries.

She said the beneficiaries were carefully selected across seven local governments of Daura, Dutsi, Mashi, Baure, Sandamu, Maiadua and Zango.

“We selected 200 beneficiaries per local government area.”

She said thousands of women from these local governments received a similar amount during the previous disbursements as the current exercise was the fourth and the gesture would continue.

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Mashi called on beneficiaries to make judicious use of the amount, especially in setting up of small scale businesses that would add value to their lives and make them achieve economic sustainability.

She said that the money was not a loan, but a  gift from the government to make women dependent.

She said that 140 women each from these local government areas also received an equal amount of money during the previous disbursements.

“We have now expanded the scope to accommodate more beneficiaries and achieve wider coverage.”

The commissioner said the state government, had in the last four years, committed huge expenditure to youth empowerment through vocational training, provision of seed capital and issuance of soft loans to members of the state traders association.

Hajiya Habiba Mohammed, one of the beneficiaries, lauded the efforts of the state government for the gesture, assuring that she would make judicious use of the amount in establishing a small business to complement her income.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Katsina State Government has established many skills acquisition centres across the state aimed at promoting vocational skills and education.