Samuel Bello, Abuja
As part of efforts by the Federal Government to cushion poverty in the country, Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Abubakar Bwari, on Wednesday, empowered 7,140 women and youths in Niger State.
Bwari, who was represented by his wife, Hannatu Bwari, at the distribution of starter-packs for beneficiaries of National Directorate of Employment (NDE) programme on skill training, explained that the start-up packs contain basic materials for soap making and pomade making, including a modest sum of N5,000 as working capital.
She noted that the empowerment was organised solely to reduce the rate of unemployment, make people self-reliant and ensure financial independence among women, especially those in their twenties.
Bwari told the beneficiaries to see the gesture as the beginning of their journey to self employment. She also urged them to continue to show commitment and hard work to become employers of labour themselves.
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“As cosmetologists, you have all received training in liquid soap making, hair shampoo making, pomade making, antiseptic production, air freshener production and other diverse areas where your services are needed on a regular basis. It is now left for each of you to prove yourselves by the way you go about your business,” she said.
Women Leader of Gurara Local Government, Halima Usman, expressed gratitude for the gesture, saying “he did well and really tried. I won’t stop praying for him with what he has done for us. I assure him that Insha Allah, all these women including me will never let him down.
Another Women leader of Tafa local government, Memuna Dauda, also said “we are so grateful for what he did for us and it is our prayer that God would increase him more and more and enlarge his coast in Jesus name. It is also our prayer that as he is doing this, he would regain everything he has lost.
Director General of NDE, Nasiru Argungu, represented by Abdullahi Mohammed, urged the beneficiaries to go back to their notes and ensure there aren’t any confusion or lapses in their cosmetology business.