150,000 Women To Receive World Bank Empowerment Project In Kebbi

From : Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi

Authority in Kebbi State Ministry for Women Affairs has expressed that no fewer than 150,000 women in the state are expected to benefit from training, empowerment and community investment grants under the World Bank-supported Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP).

The state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajiya Halima Hassan-Kamba, made this known in Birnin Kebbi on Monday during an inter-ministerial briefing organised by the state Ministry of Information and Culture.

She said the project followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and the NFWP, adding that five Local Government Areas (LGAs) had so far been enrolled into the programme.

According to her, each of the benefiting LGAs is expected to mobilise 120 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs), while female facilitators engaged under the programme are being paid monthly allowances.

The commissioner said the ministry’s mandate remained the formulation of policies, legislations and programmes aimed at protecting, supporting and empowering women and children across the state.

She added that the ministry’s interventions were focused on women empowerment through skills acquisition programmes, protection of child rights, promotion of gender equality, and prevention of child abuse, child marriage and domestic violence against women.

Hassan-Kamba said the ministry had recorded significant achievements under the present administration through people-oriented programmes designed to improve the welfare of women, children and vulnerable groups.

She added that wives of the governor had continued to champion training, skills acquisition and empowerment programmes for women and youths across the state to promote self-reliance and economic growth.