The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has flagged off the Federal Government’s Special Cash Grant for Rural Women in Oyo State.
A total of 5,280 beneficiaries are to benefit from the cash grant of 20,000 each, to uplift the socio-economic status of the rural women.
According to her, the state has received a total sum of nine hundred and ninety-two million, seven hundred and fifteen thousand naira from the Federal Government’s Conditional Cash Transfer programme since its inception, impacting the lives of 14,021 vulnerable households from 28 Local Government Areas.
“I must note at this point, that the social register is being expanded to cater for more poor and vulnerable households in Oyo State. The Rural Women’s Cash Grant is designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural Nigeria. A grant of N20,000.00 will be disbursed to over 150,000 poor rural women across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. The grant is expected to increase access to financial capital required for economic activities,” She said.
Representing Governor, Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, the Chief of Staff, Chief Bisi Ilaka appreciated the Federal Government for the cash grant initiative.
He assured the Federal Government that the State Government was committed to creating and improving opportunities for people to live meaningful and fulfilled life.
“I advise the beneficiaries to take advantage of the current women’s emancipation initiative both globally and locally, involve in governance, seek political positions and take advantage of different policies of government to change the society,” the Chief of Staff said.
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare who was at the event, stressed the need to empower more women across the country.
Speaking further, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion in the State, Fausat Joke Sani thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for consistently making efforts to empower the poor and vulnerable in the country.
Umar Farouq later made symbolic presentations of the cash grant to some physically challenged women and urged them to make good utilization of the money.
PIAK
