23/10/2021
Gombe first lady’s ARC (P) project trains Women groups, vulnerable on manufacturing of quality household item
..as over 200 Women co’operative groups benefit from the ARC (P) project’s scheme
Gombe State First Lady, Asma’u Inuwa Yahaya has stated that ,one of the cardinal objectives of At Risk Children Project, is to empower women, Youths and Children of vulnerability status , with the requisite knowledge and skills for them to stand on their feet as well as have a sense of belonging in the society.
The First Lady made the statement , during a practical session,for the production of household items, proposed for women empowerment, under the Human Capital Development Initiative of governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya administration, in Gombe state.
Having watched with keen interest , the production of some items such as, pomade, disinfectants, liquid/solid soaps , mentholated balm etc, Asma’u Inuwa drew the attention of the trainers towards quality standard products, that will in turn, open up more jobs opportunities and attract not only indigenous customers, but foreign inverstors, stressing that women as trainees should not settle for less and heed to their brand name which will allow them compete with the outside world.
When presented with the finished and packaged products, the governor’s wife was very impressed and optimistic that , with the resourcefulness of Gombe Women, most vulnerable homes will by the almighty grace, have a course to smile.
The Special Adviser to Gombe state governor on Human Capital Development and ARC -P Gombe lead, Barrister Sani Haruna explained that, at these preliminary stage of Women empowerment,two hundred and fifty(250)women from different cooperative groups,will undergo master trainings,where each master trainer, will in turn , train 2 women from their groups, making a total of five hundred women (500),for the first batch.
The special adviser said, it is interesting to note that, at the end of the training, women will be given starter packs and stipend, while Bank of industry agreed to give an off – taker loan to eligible women,by providing half of the capital. This is in addition to financial literacy, where women learn how to save their money for the rainy days, as customized ATM cards will be issued to them,to also encourage ebusiness . The logic behind empowering women is to reach the children through their mothers who , if economically empowered,can support and sustain the family.
There was a consensus by the chairman, board of trustees ,Jewel Care Foundation, Hamisu Saulawa, and senior ARC-P members, Aishatu Bukar , Safiya Ibrahim and Abdulwahab Sabo, on the use of indigenous brand names and the idea of customized Gombe Goes Green package for unique identification, brought by Barr. Sani Haruna as suggested by experts in name branding, be adopted.
Highlights of the event was the practical presentation of the production of liquid and solid soaps, room/ toilet freshener, pomade, mentholated balm among others, by the trainers of TWA WEST- AFRICA LIMITED , Aishatu Abubakar and Idris Ibrahim, who came from Yobe State.
The trainers who took turns to explain the production processes, how and where applicable for health purposes, further explained that, items needed are locally sourced in Gombe ,Yobe and Kano states respectively, which makes for ease of doing business and cost effective.