By Haruna Abubakar Bebeji
The Jigawa State governor, Badaru Abubakar, has said his administration has empowered over 40,000 women and youths in the state in the last two years of his tenure.
The governor stated this when he received the minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, A’isha Alhassan, at the Government House, Dutse.
Mr Abubakar said his administration’s empowerment programs were demand-driven to make them sustainable.
He noted that to empower a woman is to empower the society, hence the need to partner with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to support and empower more women in the state.
The governor lauded the federal government’s National Women Empowerment Fund, NWEF, and the selection of Jigawa State as one of the states in the pilot schemes of the program.
He said many states are coming to the state to copy the state’s widow goat rearing loan model.
Earlier in her remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs,Aisha Jummai Alhassan, said she was at the state in continuation of her consultation visit with a view to collaborating with state government.
She said the federal government is rolling out the National Women Empowerment Fund and eight States have been selected for the pilot scheme of the program.
The minister added that Jigawa State was selected in the pilot program and applauded the state Governor for his giant strides in the empowerment of women.
Mrs Alhassan said she is touring the states in the federation to sensitise women on the need to wake up and key into federal government’s programs.
She explained that the Ministry is collaborating with State Government to implement federal government’s programs and policies on women empowerment.
The minister lauded Mr Abubakar’s passion for women empowerment and development.
