106,000 women in four states to benefit from Dangote’s N1.1bn empowerment fund

With a target to reduce the vulnerability of women in Northern Nigeria as well as ease the distress in their households, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) says it has resolved to empower 106,000 women across four states in the region with N1.1 billion.

The foundation explained that it has already commenced the identification of eligible beneficiaries, towards the implementation of the programme across these states. The explanation was made in a statement made available to business a.m.

The foundation said it will empower 23,000 women in Sokoto, 34,000 women in Katsina, 21,000 women in Kebbi and 28,000 women in Zamfara.

According to the statement, the entire empowerment programme launched 2011 in Kano state is worth N10 billion. It targets one million indigent and vulnerable women, and is being systematically rolled out nationwide to cover the 774 Local Government Areas of the country.

“So far, 334,500 women and youths have benefitted from the programme across Kano, Jigawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Lagos, Nasarawa and Niger States,” the statement from the foundation revealed.

Also part of the Foundation’s empowerment programme is the Dangote micro-grants. The foundation explained that it provides disadvantaged women, and from time to time disadvantaged youth, with a one-time N10,000 cash grant to boost their household income generation.

This, according to ADF, will help reduce their vulnerability and meet their livelihood needs. As far as possible, participants also receive training tailored to bolster their income-generating activities which are critical for the welfare of millions of Nigerians.

Beneficiaries of this programme are evenly selected from the target community/ward/hamlet based on the following criteria: Vulnerable women, Food distressed household with infant or children under-five year old, disabled, divorcee, widow with multiple dependents, extremely poor and resident in the community, and at least 18 years old irrespective of marital status.

It would be recalled that the Programme is implemented in partnership with States Government to complement their economic empowerment and poverty reduction drive across the country. The Executive Governor of a benefitting state set up a committee to oversee the implementation of the programme alongside Aliko Dangote Foundation in the state.

From 2016, the Foundation automated the beneficiary enrolment and payment processes. Also, in addition to the cash grants, beneficiaries were also given mobile phones and SIM cards by the Foundation. In the last two states the scheme was implemented, the Foundation partnered with a leading commercial bank to open bank accounts and provide ATM card for each beneficiary.