The state Project Coordinator, Kaduna State Agro-processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS) project, Yahaya Aminu, has disclosed that no fewer than 10,000 people are expected to benefit from the Women and Youth Empowerment Program (WYEP), with N2million threshold grants.
The state Coordinator, explained that 35 per cent of the direct beneficiaries will be women, while 5-10 per cent will be people with disabilities.
He made the assertion during the Inception Meeting of the Technical Assistance for the Preparation and Review of Business Investment Plan (BIP) for Women and Youth in Kaduna on Thursday.
According to him Aminu, the program is to support business planning and facilitation of business name registration and certification, and also to enhance agricultural productivity.
While speaking, he admitted that impact of COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down and delayed the program.
The Deputy Governor of Kaduna state, Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Barrister James Kanyip said the State is committed to support the program and actualising the empowerment of women and youths.
According to him, the project will not only be beneficial to the state, but Nigeria at large.
He said, the program is timely and apt, considering the fact that the country is now diversifying its economy, hence the effort of government in given its citizens other opportunities through the various Value-Chains.
” Since the country now is diversifying from oil to agriculture, the Agro-Processing Productivity Enhancement And Livelihood Improvement Support Project (APPEAL) is a good project,” he concluded.
