Modupe Gbadeyanka
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
No fewer than 106,000 women from four states in Northern Nigeria will benefit from a N1.1 billion funding package being planned by the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) before the end of 2019.
A statement from the organization explained that the initiative was in continuation of its micro-grant scheme aimed at poverty amelioration through economic empowerment of women.
The scheme provides recipients with a one-time, un-conditional N10,000.00 cash grant to meet immediate household consumption and economic 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 communities with primary consideration for vulnerable women, food distressed household with infant or children under-five year old, disabled, divorcee, widow with multiple dependents, extremely poor residents in these communities.
The Dangote Micro-Grant scheme, which was launched in 2011 in Kano State, is a N10 billion project, targeting indigenous and vulnerable women nationwide and is being systematically rolled out nationwide to cover 774 Local Government areas in 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.
For the latest, the Aliko Dangote Foundation has already commenced the identification of eligible beneficiaries, towards the implementation of the programme across these states and will be actively targeting and empowering 23,000 women in Sokoto, 34,000 women in Katsina, 21,000 women in Kebbi and 28,000 women in Zamfara.
Recall that the initiative was implemented in partnership with states government to complement their economic empowerment and poverty reduction drive across the country.
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.
