The Katsina State Government on Thursday announced plans to embark on a good number of empowerment programmes lined up for women in next year’s Ramadan fast.

In this regard, 50 women will be empowered from each of the 34 Local Government Areas of the state with the catering business of Koko and Kosai, a food majority taken by at least 70% of Hausa-speaking people as breakfast.

The essence, according to the State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hadiza Yar’adua, is to add capital to their businesses, stating that even those with no businesses will be empowered to start the business.

This, she said, is in addition to the incoming Nigerian For Women Project, a World Bank project targeted at empowering women across various communities in clusters on different trades.

Yar’adua explained that the aim is to upscale their businesses and empower them with business management skills, and financial literacy, and will eventually be supported with more capital into their businesses for sustainability.

The Commissioner was speaking during a livelihoods empowerment programme carried out by the EU Funded Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) for 100 women and youth beneficiaries selected from four different LGAs of Batsari, Danmusa, Jibia, and Kankara held at the Multipurpose Women Centre, Katsina.

She, therefore, urged beneficiaries to utilise the opportunity by empowering themselves and others in the community.

“Beneficiaries were sent to the Katsina Youth Craft Village and have undergone vigorous training on different skills acquisition programmes which include: welding and carpentry, cosmetology, tailoring, and catering, among others.

“Today, we empower the beneficiaries with start-up kits to start their businesses in the comfort of their homes,” Yar’adua added.

The permanent Secretary of the Katsina Ministry of Women Affairs, Nura Murtala, while delivering welcome remarks, commended the state governor, Dikko Radda, for his unwavering commitment and support in supporting and empowering women in the State.