Niger gov’s wife empowers 250 women with cash support

Wife of the Niger State governor, Hajiya Fatima Bago, on Wednesday, empowered 250 petty traders and vulnerable women with N100,000 each to support their businesses and improve their livelihoods, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has said.

Speaking at the empowerment programme in Minna, Bago said the initiative was aimed at supporting widows, petty traders and the underprivileged 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.

“It is a joyous moment for us to see those close to us doing well.

“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.

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“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, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Hadiza Kuta, said many of the beneficiaries were petty traders operating with capital ranging from N10,000 to N25,000.

Kuta said that the intervention will boost women’s economic activities and improve family welfare.

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.

She added that the programme was designed to restore hope, dignity and economic independence to widows, petty traders and other vulnerable women.

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.