The wife of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Nasarawa State, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, Hajiya Maryam Ahmed Wadada, has commenced a statewide women’s empowerment programme aimed at supporting 6,500 women across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State.
Under the initiative, each beneficiary will receive ₦50,000 as seed capital, bringing the total financial value of the empowerment programme to ₦325 million.
Programme Targets Women Across Nasarawa
The initiative is designed to provide women with financial support to establish new businesses, expand existing ventures and strengthen their sources of income.
Hajiya Maryam Wadada has so far taken the empowerment programme to Awe, Obi, Keana and Doma Local Government Areas, where selected beneficiaries received the funds.
The programme is expected to continue across the remaining local government areas of the state until the 6,500 targeted beneficiaries are reached.
₦50,000 Seed Capital for Each Beneficiary
Each woman selected for the programme is receiving ₦50,000, which is intended to serve as seed capital for small-scale economic activities.
With 6,500 women benefiting, the total amount being committed to the programme is ₦325 million.
The initiative is expected to benefit women engaged in various forms of petty trading, agriculture, food processing, fashion, crafts and other small businesses.
Beneficiaries Express Appreciation
The beneficiaries who received the funds during the visits expressed appreciation to Hajiya Maryam Wadada for what they described as a timely intervention.
They said the financial support would help them increase their working capital and provide an opportunity to improve their businesses.
Some of the beneficiaries also pledged to use the money for the intended purpose, noting that access to small amounts of capital can make a significant difference to women operating businesses at the grassroots.
Focus on Economic Independence
The empowerment programme is aimed at strengthening the economic capacity of women and enabling them to contribute more effectively to the welfare of their families.
By providing direct financial support rather than one-off material donations, the initiative seeks to give beneficiaries capital that can be reinvested in their businesses to generate income.
The programme also reflects the growing emphasis on grassroots interventions that provide women with opportunities to become economically active and self-reliant.
Initiative Extends Across 13 LGAs
The programme is expected to cover all 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State, ensuring that women from different communities have access to the intervention.
The statewide approach is expected to broaden the reach of the empowerment initiative and provide support to women beyond major urban centres.
As the programme progresses, more beneficiaries are expected to receive the ₦50,000 seed capital.
Commitment to Grassroots Development
The initiative underscores Hajiya Maryam Wadada’s focus on women’s economic empowerment and grassroots development in Nasarawa State.
With a total commitment of ₦325 million for 6,500 women, the programme is expected to provide additional financial capacity for beneficiaries to improve their businesses, increase household income and contribute to local economic activities.
The organisers urged the beneficiaries to make productive use of the funds and reinvest in their businesses to ensure that the impact of the intervention extends beyond the initial financial support.
