EU, Katsina Govt Roll Out Empowerment For Women

By Ayodele Oni

The Katsina State Government has announced plans to embark on empowerment programmes for women during next year’s Ramadan.

In this regard, 50 women will be empowered from each of the 34 Local government areas of the state with the catering business of Koko and Kosai, a food being taking by at least 70 percent of Hausa-speaking people as breakfast.

The essence, according to the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hadiza Yar’adua, is to add capital to their businesses, stating that even those with no businesses will equally benefit.

The Commissioner was speaking during a livelihood empowerment programme carried out by the European Union (EU) Funded Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) for 100 women and youth beneficiaries selected from four different local governments of Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia, and Kankara held at the Multipurpose Women Centre, Katsina.

According to her, this will be in addition to the incoming Nigerian For Women Project, a World Bank project targeted at empowering women across various communities in clusters on different trades.

Yar’adua explained that the aim is to upscale their businesses and empower them with management skills, and financial literacy, which will eventually be supported with more capital into their businesses for sustainability.

She urged beneficiaries to utilize the opportunity by empowering themselves and others in the community.

“Beneficiaries were sent to the Katsina Youth Craft Village and have undergone vigorous training on different skills acquisition programmes which include: welding and carpentry, cosmetology, tailoring, and catering, among others.

“Today, we empower the beneficiaries with start-up kits to start their businesses in the comfort of their homes.”

The permanent Secretary of the Katsina Ministry of Women Affairs, Nura Murtala, while delivering welcome remarks, commended the state governor, Dikko Radda, for his unwavering commitment and support and empowering women in the State.