The National Centre for Women Development has distributed the Nigerian Government’s Covid-19 relief packages to 600 women in the southern part of the country.
The Covid-19 relief packages comprised various start-up kits and seed grants to the women under the Innovation and Empowerment in South-South zone of the Nigerian Government and the Kasuk Project.
Mrs. Mary Ekpere-Eta, the Director General of the centre, told journalists in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State and venue for the distribution of the items, said “the beneficiaries are drawn from the six states of the south-south and they were trained for ten days in different vocations.”
“What you are seeing here is the distribution of the starter packs after the women completed their training in Fish farming, Poultry, Tailoring, vulcanizing, cosmetology, soap making and catering as well as the Post Covid-19 programme in Hygiene products,” said Ekpere-Eta.
According to her, “women and youths in Nigeria constitute over 70 percent of the population and over the years the centre has trained and empowered thousands with relevant skills and equipment to promote job and wealth creation.”
She noted that these were the agency’s contribution to achieving the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda of bringing over 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
The DG urged the beneficiaries to effectively utilize the opportunity given, hinting “monitoring teams will be moving round to inspect how you are using the skills and equipment. Do not hesitate to call the National Centre for Women Development for technical support.”
“But, let me remind you that these training and empowerment is continuous and part of the steps to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda to take 100 million Nigerians out of poverty. It therefore means you all have the responsibility to create opportunities for others to benefit,” she emphasized.
In a reaction, one of the beneficiaries, Rita Cobham was full of praise for President Buhari for introducing and implementing the programme through the centre.
Prominent stakeholders in the region including the immediate past secretary of the Cross River chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Victor Ebong, one-time governorship aspirant, Eyo Etim Nyong amongst others presented goodwill messages and urged the beneficiaries to be grateful to the Nigerian President for introducing the programme through effective utilization of the equipment and grants.
Dominica Nwabufo
