Jigawa State Government has commenced the disbursement of ₦250 million as a grant to over 4,349 youth and women owners of small scale businesses, along with a social intervention grant for 1,000 people with disabilities.
Speaking at the flag-off for the grant and intervention distribution, the state governor, Malam Umar Namadi Sa’id, declared his government’s commitment to utilizing every opportunity and available resource to train and empower the people of Jigawa, with the aimof reducing poverty to the barest minimum.
He explained that the state government is collaborating with national and international agencies, companies, and civil societies in its fight against poverty, promoting job creation, self-reliance, and building sustainable economic development in the state.
He said, “As part of my government’s 12-point agenda, we are training people on a job of their choice at six skill acquisition centers in the state. We are also providing special grants to empower individuals through their own jobs, thereby enhancing productivity and wealth creation.
“We are also providing support and intervention to the elderly and people with disabilities for social security and economic inclusion, all in our journey to make Jigawa great and a happier society for all.”
Governor Sa’id then assured the people of his commitment to delivering on his promises through the designed 12-point agenda.
In his speech at the occasion, the Executive Secretary of Jigawa State Directorate For Economic Empowerment, Dr. Habu Ubale, explained that a grant of ₦50,000 will be given to each of the 4,349 youth and women entrepreneurs, while the sum of ₦30,000 will be provided as a social intervention grant to 1,000 people with disabilities.
Dr. Ubale added that the beneficiaries were selected from the state Social Register website, which is open and accessible to everyone in the state.
“In our commitment to provide equal opportunities for all, youth from every political ward were trained and employed to serve as facilitators and also assist people to register with the website for easy identification and capturing for employment, empowerment, training, and other economic interventions.”
“Under the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Program (J-CARES), we are targeting to reach over 28,974 people with different empowerment packages by the end of the year 2024 for growth and development,” Dr. Ubale declared.
