Government, Private collaborations will drive positive change in Nigeria- Minister

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Steel Development, Mr. Uba Maigari Ahmadu, says “Collaborative efforts between private organizations and the government will help drive positive change.”

He stated this on Tuesday at the grand finale of the Mennonite Economic Development Association (MEDA), a Youth Entrepreneurship and Women Empowerment programme in Northern Nigeria.

Mr. Ahmadu said Nigeria can achieve more “when we work together, each bringing our unique strength to the table,” noting that “working together to achieve success is in line with the Present Administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda”.

Speaking further, he stated that the “Nigeria Way Project” is remarkable and has been a beacon of hope illuminating the path towards Youth Entrepreneurship and Women’s Empowerment which has witnessed the transformation of lives, establishment of sustainable businesses, and the Empowerment of women who are the backbone of the communities.

The Minister also said that the collaboration across the seven (7) Local Government Areas of Bauchi State, Northeast Nigeria, has been a testament to the resilience of the communities.

Dass, Ganjuwa, Toro, Jama’are, Warji and Katagun are among the local Government Areas to benefit from the partnership, a project fondly known as Nigeria Way.

Earlier in her welcome address, the Country Project Manager of MEDA, Grace Fosen, stated that over the past seven years, the Organization has embarked on a remarkable journey of Empowerment, Resilience, and Positive Transformation.

She revealed that the project has witnessed remarkable achievement as it recorded over 1bn financial access that has helped in fostering the growth of women businesses, adding that various youths have been supported in Mini-Agro equipment fabrication which has promoted local indigenous manufacturing of agro technologies.

She said “more than 9000 women and youths have acquired productive technologies for their business and over 15000 have received technical assistance to promote economic and climate resilience.”