BY AHMED AKANBI
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Group, Zone ‘A’ Niger State, has unveiled plans to establish a large-scale economic empowerment initiative targeted at 88,000 women beneficiaries across the eight local government areas of the zone.
The announcement was made midweek during a solidarity visit to Governor Umaru Bago at the Government House, Minna, led by the governor’s wife, Hajiya Fatima Bago.
In a statement by Bologi Ibrahim, Chief Press Secretary to the governor, the First Lady said the vision is to empower 100 women in each of the 88 wards of Zone A.
“Each beneficiary will receive business support tokens alongside entrepreneurship training, mentorship and monitoring,” she explained.
She added that the initiative has the potential to strengthen household incomes, reduce poverty and stimulate grassroots economic growth.
The First Lady said the group would seek partnership with the state government to ensure effective implementation.
She also disclosed that members have resolved to return to their respective local government areas and wards to build the structure for the program.
Hajiya Bago further hinted at a separate empowerment programme she would launch in Edati Local Government targeting 1,000 women and youth, adding that it would later be replicated across all eight local government areas in Zone A.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Hajiya Hannatu described the delegation as 100 united women drawn from the eight local government areas and 88 wards of Zone A.
She said the group identified with the “remarkable achievements of the farmer governor”, commending him for his “purposeful leadership” and for appointing women into strategic positions, including the historic appointment of female vice chairpersons across all 25 local government areas of the state.
The group also passed a vote of confidence and resolved to endorse Bago for a second term, saying continuity will consolidate the developmental gains already recorded.