The Yobe State Ministry of Women Affairs has distributed business startup items to two hundred women as measures to empower the women folk in the state.
The 200 beneficiaries were drawn from Geidam and Yunusari Local Government Areas of the state, some of the Local Government areas worst hit by the Boko Haram insurgency.
The empowerment programme is designed to counter violence extremism by gainfully engaging the women in several means of livelihoods which brought together women across the two council areas.
Speaking during the distribution of the materials to the beneficiaries, the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajara Lawan, said the beneficiaries were chosen after the Northeast Regional Initiative (NERI) in collaboration with Ministry of Women Affairs and provided six training workshops to boost the morale of the women on how to improve their business and living peacefully with one another.
“In order to reduce the gender base violence, among women, efforts were made to build local capacities especially those affected by the insurgency to be economically self-reliant and to be able to develop themselves and their dependents.
“NERI in collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs in area of humanitarian support provided six training workshops on the participatory approach to peace, education and leadership roles in becoming an entrepreneur.
“The six days training was to boost the morale of the women on how to improve their businesses and live peacefully with one another in marketplaces.” Hajara Lawan said.
While congratulating the beneficiaries, the Commissioner solicited the cooperation of NERI in extending the gesture to cover the 17 LGAs of the state.
The chairman Geidam Local Government, Mulima Idi-Mato commended the donors saying it will go a long way in improving the lives of the women.
“These materials will go a long way in improving the lives of our women and we appreciate the composition of the beneficiaries which cut across irrespective of any differences.
“Let me thank NERI and the Ministry of Women Affairs for this gesture which will in no small measure alleviates the sufferings of our displaced women,” Idi-Mato said.
Beneficiaries in their separate responses appreciated the efforts of the donors for coming to their aid and assured that the materials will be judiciously used in improving their living conditions.
The distribution ceremony had in attendance opinion leaders, political office holders as well as traditional rulers who all applauded the gesture which will go a long way in alleviating poverty particularly among the womenfolk within the areas.
