The Yobe State Executive Council has approved the release of ₦460.83 million to support female small-scale business owners, including akara sellers and other women engaged in petty trading, as part of efforts to improve household incomes and strengthen grassroots businesses.
The approval was granted during a State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Mai Mala Buni at the Government House in Damaturu.
Speaking after the meeting, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Abdullahi Bego, said the funds would be used to procure 1,780 bags of 50kg beans, which will be distributed to beneficiaries across the state. Each beneficiary will also receive complementary items, including cooking oil, smokeless stoves, cooking utensils, and other kitchen equipment, which had already been procured through the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation.
Bego explained that the initiative is designed to empower women at the grassroots, especially those running small businesses that contribute to family incomes and local economic activities. He noted that the government believes strengthening women-owned enterprises will promote self-reliance, reduce poverty, and stimulate economic growth across communities.
The council also approved ₦364.48 million for the purchase of 1,000 Yamaha GX 390 grinding machines, which will be distributed to residents as part of another empowerment programme aimed at creating more income-generating opportunities.
However, beyond the empowerment initiatives, the Yobe State Executive Council approved projects and services worth ₦73.32 billion, including ₦28.53 billion for agricultural tools and equipment. A development described as a target ahead of the state’s 2026 mega agricultural empowerment programme, ₦23.97 billion for two major road projects, as well as funding for housing schemes, market development, and other critical infrastructure.
