The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) yesterday brought succour to no fewer than 34,000 vulnerable women from all the 34 local governments in Katsina State as they benefitted from the N10 billion micro-grant being given to disadvantaged women across the country.
The money meant to empower the women economically either to start or boost their businesses was handed out amidst excitement from the beneficiaries.
The Chairman of ADF, Aliko Dangote at the ceremony held yesterday in Batagarawa Local Government in Katsina State in the presence of the state governor, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari and other top government officials disclosed that 1,000 women were drawn from each of the state’s 34 local government areas with each woman receiving N10,000,00 each.
Dangote explained that the foundation had in 2012 earmarked N10 billion for the empowerment of vulnerable women in the 774 local governments in the country and that so far about 360,000 women from Kano, Lagos, Jigawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, Niger, Sokoto and Nasarawa States representing 40% had benefitted.
“The micro-grants programme is a major component of the economic empowerment pillar of the foundation. It provides disadvantaged and vulnerable women with a one-off, unconditional N10,000,00 cash transfer to boost their household income generation. This we believe will help reduce their vulnerability and meet their livelihood needs,” he added.
“In the coming weeks we would be proceeding to Kebbi, Zamfara, Edo and Osun states to conduct a similar programme,” he said.