By Hauwa Muhammad Gold
Sokoto – The Sokoto State Government said it allocated over N102 milion for the welfare of women, children and vulnerable groups in 2017 budget.
The Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Sifawa, disclosed this in Sokoto on Wednesday at a news briefing to mark Gov. Aminu Tambuwal’s
two years anniversary in office.
She said “this figure doubled that of 2016 and it is the highest since the creation of the ministry in 1997.
“This, will no doubt, ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the ministry’s programmes and projects.”
Sifawa said that the state government had improved funding of Ramadan package for the less privileged in the society.
She added that “it has been the tradition of the ministry to bring succour to less privileged women during Ramadan fast and Sallah festivities.
“The package involves the purchase and distribution of food items such as rice, millet, sugar, milk, clothing materials and cash to less privileged women groups and associations.
“They include lepers, the blind and other persons with disabilities, as well as female patients in various hospitals across the state.”
The commissioner noted that the ministry had established effective collaboration
with some international development partners like UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP
and USAID, among others.
She explained that “these donor agencies have supported the gender
empowerment in the state, through the provision of working materials
to Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) patients at rehabilitation centres.
“They have supported the training of VVF patients in trades, aimed at re-integrating them to their society.”
She further said that the international development partners had
created sensitisation and awareness on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) for
traditional and religious leaders, women groups and security agents.
Sifawa explained that the ministry planned to focus on strategic plan of action to alleviate poverty, address critical gender issues and provide soft loans to women.
“The ministry also intends to create synergy with local governments to facilitate focused and effective coordination, planning and implementation of programmes and
projects,” she added.