Four hundred women and girls were issued certificates in tailoring, bead making and event decoration after weeks of extensive training in Minna Niger state.
The empowerment scheme was initiated by Step up Skill Training, a project of the wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Oludolapo Osinbajo; RAISE Foundation, a pet project of the wife of the Niger State Governor, Dr. Amina Abubakar and the Niger State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Bello said the initiative was part of the poverty reduction measure aimed at reducing women vulnerability and dependency in all sphere of life.
She stated that the high rate of maternal mortality and violence against women as well as lack of economic opportunity made their condition more pitiable, while calling for necessary legislation to reverse the trend.
She commended the wife of the vice president for choosing Niger as pioneer northern state, that would benefit from the programme even as he appealed to other like-minds and wealthy individuals to take the issue of women empowerment through skill acquisition and other economic initiative, including agriculture as priority.
She said although women contribute tremendously to agricultural output but they hardly benefited from agricultural incentives and innovation because of economic suppression and social and traditional practices, which undermine the constitutional provisions on gender equality.
The commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Roseline Araba said the initiative was part of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration’s effort at redressing the economic gap between the women and their male counterparts.
She said arrangement has already been made with the Bank of Industry (BOI) for capital to enable the beneficiaries to set up their businesses, in line with the skills acquired.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Rachel Yisa, while thanking the delegation and instructors for a job well done, she also advised the participant to use the opportunity of skills acquired for the growth of their business.
