The House of Representatives member representing Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hon. Gabriel Saleh Zock, has given the N100m business grants to 1,000 women and youths in his constituency.
Nine hundred of the women and youths who were selected from the 22 wards that make up the Federal Constituency, were given N50,000 each, while 100 others with outstanding business proposals were given between N300,000 and N7 million.
Hon. Zock who carried out the constituency empowerment programme in collaboration with the National Productivity Centre, said the gesture was aimed at empowering the women and youths to start or uplift their businesses, so that they can be financially independent.
Addressing the beneficiaries in Kachia yesterday, the Lawmaker urged them to utilise the fund judiciously, so that they can become financially independent and assist others.
“This empowerment grant is in response to the economic situation of the country. We are aware of the challenges of the masers. So, this empowerment is to show that we are with the masses by lifting our constituents, to help them start businesses and for farmers to get farm inputs, which will assist them to get a better living.
“As a way of ensuring judicious use of the fund, we have collaborated with a micro finance bank which will disburse the fund and monitor it. We are also confident, because every beneficiary has proven to us beyond reasonable doubt what they will do with the money.
“We have also through the micro finance bank trained the beneficiaries on business management. We are going to monitor their business performance through the micro finance bank,” he said.
