The Governor of Nasarawa State in North Central Nigeria, Abdullahi Sule has commended the Nigerian Government for initiating the Rural Women’s Special Cash Grant.
Governor Sule gave the commendation when the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Farouq flagged-off the programme at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Banquet Hall in Lafia, the State capital.
Represented by his Deputy, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the Govenor said that the Covid-19 pandemic had put Nigerians especially women in a critical situation which called for an urgent redress.
“Let me commend the Minister for initiating this programme which targets the vulnerable segment in the society especially the women folk with a view to ameliorating the hardship occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic. The clamor for the liberation of women from the shackles of poverty, deprivation and backwardness has been the desire of successful administrations in this country.
“There is no doubt that the effect of this situation on our already traumatised women who largely reside in the rural areas, leaves much to be desired and calls for urgent attention to ameliorate this disturbing condition. It is against this background that I commend the revolutionary vision and indeed the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs to reach out and support our rural women to enable them to overcome this ugly phenomenon before it degenerates to a full blown crisis,” Governor said
The Governor also promised to complement the Nigerian Government’s effort in empowering rural women.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Farouq stated that 2,600 Rural Women drawn from the five Local Government Councils in Nasarawa State, would benefit from the special grant.
She said the grant would alleviate the hardship occasioned by the pandemic and relieve them of extreme poverty.
The Minister further assured the State Government of more prospects and Government’s interventions in the nearest future.
“The Special Cash Grant for Rural Women programme being flagged off was introduced in 2020 by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development as part of President Mohammadu Buhari’s Social inclusion and poverty reduction agenda, including the realisation of the national aspiration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. It 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 explained.
The Minister was represented by the Minister of State, Science & Technology, Barr. Mohammed Hassan Abdullahi at the event.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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