Sokoto Gov’t earmarks N4bn to empower 216,000 business women — Women Affairs Commissioner 
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
Sokoto State Women Affairs Commissioner, Hajiya Hadiza Ahmad Shagari, has disclosed that the state government has earmarked over N4billion for the Empowerment of no fewer than 216,000 women entrepreneurs in the state.
According to her, the largesse will be extended to the lucky women in nine out of the 23 Local Government Areas in the state, adding that the first phase will involve beneficiaries from Gwadabawa, Dange/Shuni and Sokoto South LGAs.
Our Correspondent reports that Hajiyar Hadiza Shagari disclosed this on Sunday in Sokoto when she featured on the weekly live phone-in programme of the state-owned Radio Station, Rima Radio.
She stated that the women were selected under the Nigeria-For-Women Programme, a women-only initiative of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Commissioner further said that the programme has a tripartite funding nature, saying, it involves the federal and Sokoto State Governments as well as the World Bank.
Hajiya Hadiza Shagari also said,”our amiable and women-friendly Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto had since approved over N4billion counterpart funding of the state and the money is already intact in our account.”
She added that no fewer than 1,200 women groups have been selected from each of the nine participating Local Governments, while each women group has nothing less than 20 women entrepreneurs and semi-scale industrialists.
According to the Commissioner, the four-year programme focuses on rice threshers and small-scale millers, among a myriad of other businesses.
Hajiya Hadiza Shagari further explained that the women will be given various business grants to upgrade and modernize their trades with a view to bolstering their packagings for nationwide domestic patronage and for exports.
“This noble gesture is aimed at further reducing poverty and unemployment in the state as well as to boost the economy of the state and Nigeria in general,”she averred.
Meanwhile, Hajiya Hadiza Ahmad Shagari has disclosed plans by the state government to train another set of no fewer than 500 women under a four-training package.
She added that each of the women will be receiving a monthly allowance of N25,000 from the state government, while they will be given take-off grants and various working tools upon the completion of their training.
The Commissioner listed some of the vocational trades and skills to include poultry, horticulture, animal husbandry, knitting and sewing, bakery and confectionaries, among several others.
Hajiya Hadiza Ahmad Shagari commended Gov. Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto and his wife, Dr Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, for being too committed to all issues affecting women across the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
“Sokoto State has never had a First Lady like Dr Fatima Ahmed Aliyu as she has dedicated her life to women in the state.
“Her doors are open for women 24-hours, non-stop and she always preoccupies herself with only issues affecting women in Sokoto State,” she remarked.
On 2027, Hajiya Hadiza Ahmad Shagari said that over 80 per cent of women in the state belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying, ” even those outside the party are struggling to come on board.
“As far as as 2027 is concerned, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko and all APC candidates here in Sokoto and other parts of Nigeria have already won, by the special grace of God.
“This is because of the colossal achievements of the party here in Sokoto as well as at the national and subnational levels across Nigeria.”
