Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi has commended the Aisha Abubakar Malami Centre for Women Development (AAMCWD) for empowering 500 women and youths with N25 million.
Bagudu, represented by Commissioner for Works and Transport, Alhaji Abubakar Chika-Ladan, gave the commendation at a special women and youth empowerment programme, organised by the centre, in Binrin Kebbi on Thursday.
He said that the centre, which gave the fund to the beneficiaries as start-up capital to make them self-reliant, demonstrated its true vision in improving the society to raise the standard of living of women and youths.
“The centre really demonstrates its vision as a foundation whose objective is to raise the development potential of the poor, to enable them lead self-sustainable life in the society,” the governor said.
Earlier, Founder of the centre, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar-Malami, said that the gesture would provide opportunities for many youths in the 225 wards in the state to be gainfully employed and be liberated from the shackles of poverty.
“The women and youth leaders from the 225 wards in the 21 local governments from across the state will be given N50,000 each.
“The empowerment of the women and youths will help them become self-reliant and be productive members of the society,” Abubakar-Malami, who is the wife of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said.
According to her, the gesture is also aimed at empowering the women and youths to have access to basic amenities and promote entrepreneurship through skill acquisition programmes.
“The centre is to promote women and youth empowerment through entrepreneurship, education and enlightenment programmes.
“It is also to complete the ongoing women empowerment initiatives by building on the positive realities of our cultural and gender heritage, as well as on the collective experiences of different generations of Nigerian women.
“We want to form a forum of moulding you into good adults via the promotion of socio-intellectual activities, among others,” she said.
In his remarks, the minister, represented by Justice Samaila Haruna, commended his wife for the invaluable gesture.
He said that her efforts would complement the efforts of the Federal and State Governments in reducing poverty and creating employment opportunities in the state.
“The amount, if properly utilised by the beneficiaries, will create different opportunities for them, not only to be self- reliant but also, to become productive members of the society,” Malami said.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Woman Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Hajiya Aisha Gurabi, thanked the minister’s wife for the gesture.
She called on other kind-hearted individuals to emulate the gesture by helping in uplifting women and youths in the state, as government could not do it alone.
