More than 3,000 women have benefited from the ongoing Cash Grant Programme for Rural women in Edo State, Southern Nigeria.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, stated this during the flag-off of the Federal Government Special Cash Grant in the State.
Speaking through her representative, the Director Humanitarian affairs, Alhaji Ali Grema, the Minister said the grant is expected to increase income and productive assets of target beneficiaries.
She enjoined the beneficiaries who were given 20,000 each to make good use of the grant to contribute towards improving their living standards.
“Poverty reduction goals require a combination of strategies; each targeting specific needs sectors among the population. This informed the decision by Mr. President to initiate the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) as a strategy for reducing poverty and enhancing social inclusion”, she said
The NSIP is adjudged the largest social programme in Africa with over $billion earmarked annually to cause positive changes in the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable in the society.
The State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, commended the initiative of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration noting that the approach brought the government in direct contact with rural women, taking into cognizance their enormous challenges and the prevailing economic realities.
Obaseki applauded the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for its commitment to grassroots empowerment through such initiative and urged government at all levels to leverage on areas of comparative advantages in channelling intervention with a bid to reaching the unreached amongst the citizens.
The Permanent Secretary of the state’s Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues, Mrs. Dorcas Idehen, said that the Federal Government’s initiative geared towards lifting the socio-economic status of rural women is highly recommendable.
Nneka Ukachukwu
