By IBRAHIM BELLO

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, has said that 54,000 women in the state will be supported by the World Bank under the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), to enhance their livelihood.

Bagudu who made the disclosure while inaugurating the State Steering and Technical Committee for the project on Monday in Birnin Kebbi, said 18,000 women from each of the three local government areas selected for the project, would benefit.

He charged the committee to be transparent, accountable and involve all stakeholders for better results.

“This is a very important project for all of us. It is a project that is available to support women at various local government areas,” the governor said.

He added: “This is a World Bank programme that Kebbi state is competing with other states as the World Bank has a programme they call ‘performance results’.

“They make allocation of money like $100 million US dollars for the six states. The more you work harder, the more money you will get.”

Bagudu appealed to the committee to be accountable and comply with the World Bank procedures, saying that their compliance and success would be a model for other states to emulate.

“The money is distributed equally among the states. So, meeting the deadline is important. Organising and keeping record is important, as well as complying with the World Bank project procedures,” he said.

The governor directed the state Ministry for Women Affairs and Social Development to seek for more opportunities for women and involve them in all ongoing government projects and programmes for the betterment of the society.

“It is the responsibility of women affairs ministry to reach out to most of the ministries; be it Ministry of Education, Agriculture, and ask how women will gain from their programmes.

“You are supposed to ensure that in any government programme, women adequately have provision for that, as it will enhance their participation, their benefits and welfare.”

The Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, who is also the state Deputy Governor, assured that the committee would discharge its duties diligently and would not let the government down.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee comprised of representatives of Ministries of Commerce and Industry, Justice, Agriculture, Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Budget and Economic Planning, Finance, and Adviser to the governor on Women Affairs, Hajiya Zara’u Wali as member.

The NFWP is a World Bank project designed to directly impact 324,000 women nationwide through investments in comprehensive skills training, the leverage of financial and technical resources, and support to policy dialogue on women economic empowerment. (NAN)

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