Lawmaker disburses N3.5m to 33 rural women groups

A member representing Dukku/ Nafada Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Aishatu Jibril Dukku has disbursed the sum of N3.5 million to 33 women groups in her constituency as a capital.

At a ceremony to disburse the money in Nafada LGA, Gombe State, the lawmaker said N100, 000 was given to each of the 33 women groups derived from

Dukku and Nafada LGAs, adding that 10 members selected from each group will each receive the sum of N10, 000 each to boost her business.

Aishatu Dukku said the N3.5 million is a grant given free to the groups, which will in turn give out to their members as interest free loan, which will be returnd when their businesses flourish for onward distribution to others.

“The money is a seed fund given free to these groups to distribute to their members as loans, by the time they return the money, they (groups) will be able to give to others too, hence it will continue to grow as seed money,” she explained.

The lawmaker said she came up with the empowerment programme to support already established women groups engaged in different trades to improve their businesses in order to complement their husbands at their respective houses.

“I knew the kind of problems and challenges women faced both at home and outside, whether as married woman or divorcee especially when they are not doing anything tangible.

“This small capital will help them run petty businesses even from their matrimonial homes and earn a living, so that they can support their husbands in bringing up children and protect the family. Because when women are empowered poverty will decrease in the society,” she said.

Dukku added that subsequent batches of the programme will continue for the next four years, “which by then we will have a big purse that we can even approach banks to give us loans to further enhance the lives of these women.”