300 women, youths benefit from empowerment scheme in Niger

No fewer than 300 persons, majority of them women, have been empowered with capital to enable them to boost or set up businesses of their choice.

The empowerment came from the National Directorate of Employment in collaboration with a foundation, Mahdul Taqwa, to selected beneficiaries from three local government areas of Gurara, Suleja and Tafa Federal Constituency in Niger State.

A former minister of state, Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa Bwari, who facilitated the programme through the foundation chaired by his wife, Hajiya Hannatu Bawa Bwari, while launching the programme in Suleja recently, charged the beneficiaries to judiciously use the fund given to them, so as to be self-reliant and useful to the society at large.

While lauding the NDE for its resolve to collaborate with the foundation, Bwari explained that the effort would go a long way in tackling idleness and beneficiaries from idleness  poverty.

Founder of the organisation, Hajiya Hannatu Bwari, said the collaboration was the second, coming after that of last year which was extended to 150 beneficiaries.

Director General of NDE Dr Nasir Ladan Argungu, represented by Muhammadu Jimada, told the beneficiaries to count themselves among the lucky few who are determined to be productive.

He said the agency would continue to carry out its mandate by rendering support to those who commit to be self-reliant.

A beneficiary from Suleja, Hadiza Idris, expressed her delight over on the gesture, adding that the assistance would boost her business of making ‘awara’ (a soya bean cake) and also enable her to cater for her children and their education.

Another beneficiary, Laraba Joshua from New Bwari village, under Tafa council, said she would invest the money in rearing goats, in addition to her crop farming.