Dangote gives N250m to Niger women
NEWS DIGEST – Africa’s richest man, Alihaji Aliko Dangote on Thursday doled out N250 million to 25, 000 vulnerable women in Niger State to kick start their micro businesses.
The disbursement of the seed money was in continuation of his nationwide micro-grant project under the agies of Aliko Dangote Foundation to a minimum of 1,000 women in the 774 local government areas in the country.
The President of Dangote said the gesture which he started in 2012 aimed at complementing states government effort in their economy empowerment and poverty reduction drive.
“The programme is meant to support the socioeconomic change through strategic investment and intervention that improves the lives of the less privileged in the country,” he said.
Dangote explained that the micro grant programme was one of the component of the foundation to provide the disadvantaged and vulnerable women with unconditional cash transfer of N10,000.
He said the programme would help reduce their vulnerability and meet their livelihood needs, adding that the foundation had partnered with a commercial bank to open bank accounts for beneficiaries.
Dangote who described the Niger State disbursement as a model in the country, commended the state government for the method adopted in selecting beneficiaries noting that, “unlike in other states that we have flagged off the scheme, beneficiaries can be easily tracked, monitored and evaluated”.
Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello commended the foundation for its positive impact in the lives of million lives across the sub-saharan Africa.
He said the gesture of the foundation is in tune with his administration’s priority of empowering women and youth, adding that over 5,000 of them have been trained on various vocational skills acquisition programmes by his administration in the last 3 years.
The governor explained that the skills acquisition and empowerment programmes of his administration has improved the standard of living and changed the socio-economic status of women and youths in the state.
He then advised beneficiaries to put the grant into proper and judicious use.
Jibrin Baba Ndace
Chief Press Secretary
17th May 2018
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