Nigerian Government has disbursed N93,900,000 million loans to 939 women in Akwa Ibom under the National Women Empowerment Fund (NAWEF).
NAWEF is a scheme established by the Federal Government to tackle poverty and unemployment among women, especially at the grassroots, and the micro credit intervention fund is managed by Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen who announced this last Thursday at the opening of the 21st National Council meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital said 6,142 women from eight pilot states including Akwa Ibom across the country benefited from the loans.
A breakdown shows that 644 women from Abia got the loans; Adamawa- 791; Borno- 1,074; Jigawa- 442; Nasarawa- 388; Osun, 174; while 1,690 benefited from Yobe.
Under joint ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), she announced that Revitalisation of Rural Communities Economy project aimed at improving the socio-economic status of the poor especially women and children in agribusiness is ongoing in some states.
These are Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Gombe, Kebbi, Kwara, Ondo and FCT.
”In the ongoing efforts to properly document existing women groups in the country, we are profiling women groups to reposition them to benefit maximally from government projects.
”We have organized a capacity workshop on the business of today for 250 female entrepreneurs (50 offline and 250 online women entrepreneurs) in Nigeria, August 2020; and another one for 450 women in MSMEs in September 2021,’’ the minister said.
According to her, ”Under the World Bank-Nigeria for Women Project executed through a credit facility from the World Bank in 6 pilot States of Ogun, Niger, Abia, Taraba, Kebbi and Edo (recently withdrew) its participation and has been replaced with Akwa Ibom State from the Zone.
”Till date 3,617 Women Affinity Groups with an average number of 21 women per group have been set up from across the 5 pilot States.
”A total of 74,564 individual women have benefitted from the project. Total amount saved by Women Affinity Group Members amounts to N89,625,680. The total value of Social Funds (used to support group members as challenging needs arise) amounts to N14,001,260 and the total value of loans issued is N47,297,061,’’ the Minister stated.
The Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Dr. Ini Adiakpan applauded the theme of the meeting: Gender Equality: A Panacea for Enduring Security and Sustainable Economic Recovery in the Post Covid-29 Era.
According to her, the meeting was expected to ”brainstorm on gender inequality, issues affecting the development and welfare of a girl child, vulnerable and other disadvantaged members of the society, adoption of the policy of inclusiveness for women at all level as well as institution of the social welfare fund, aimed at improving the living conditions of women, children and other vulnerable persons.’’
Adiakpan expressed the readiness of the state government to participate in the ongoing World Bank-assisted Nigeria for Women Project (NWP), saying ”I understand the development objective of this project is to empower women through the provision of productive assets and skills in addition to providing project investment support and business advisory services.’’
