KATSINA (SUNDIATA POST)- Wife of Katsina State Governor, Hajiya Zulaihat Radda, has inaugurated the disbursement of N50,000 each to about 1,000 women petty traders across the state.
During the event in Katsina on Thursday, she also commenced the distribution of palliatives to People with Special Needs (PWSNs), and other vulnerable persons.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disbursement was through the pet project of the First lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, ‘Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI)’.
In her speech, on behalf of the first lady, Radda, who is the Coordinator of the project in state, said the exercise was part of the Ppresident’s wife’s continued commitment to drive economic growth, towards a better life for families.
She said, “We are all aware of the challenges, faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), especially the petty traders, who form the backbone of our local economies.
“These challenges, however, have not deterred the strength of our women. I salute you all and celebrate your courage and resilience that keep you going, to put food on the table for your families.
“Today, through the Renewed Hope Initiative Economic Empowerment Programme we are providing 1,000 pre-selected women petty traders per state, with a grant of N50,000 each to recapitalise and grow their businesses.
“The grants provided today are to assist our women petty traders in overcoming some of their business challenges, expand their businesses, create more jobs and contribute more robustly to our economy.”
According to her, economic empowerment remained a core objective of the initiative, and had consistently delivered on this promise for both women and youth, across the six geopolitical zones.
She added that the aim was to support the economic reforms of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, adding, “we recognise that empowering women economically, is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic one.
“When women thrive, their families thrive, and by extension, our communities and nation prosper.
”I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our RHI State Coordinators and First Ladies of States, and everyone involved in making this programme a reality, particularly, their efforts in identifying the traders.
“This is really commendable. to the 1000 women petty traders who are the beneficiaries of this programme, I say, ‘You are the heart of our local economies,” she said. (NAN)
