The Kebbi State Government says more than 150,000 women across the state are expected to benefit from training, empowerment programmes and community investment grants under the World Bank-supported Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP).
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The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development, Hajiya Halima Hassan-Kamba, disclosed this during an inter-ministerial briefing organised by the Kebbi State Ministry of Information and Culture in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.
According to the commissioner, the programme followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Kebbi State Government and the NFWP, with five Local Government Areas (LGAs) already enrolled into the initiative.
She explained that each participating LGA is expected to mobilise 120 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) as part of the project implementation process.
Hassan-Kamba said female facilitators working under the programme are also receiving monthly allowances to support grassroots mobilisation and programme coordination.
She described the NFWP as part of broader efforts by the state government to improve the welfare and economic participation of women across Kebbi State.
“The ministry’s mandate is centred on policies, legislations and programmes that protect, support and empower women and children in the state,” she said.
The commissioner noted that the ministry had continued to focus on skills acquisition, gender equality, child rights protection and campaigns against child abuse, domestic violence and child marriage.
She said the current administration had introduced several people-focused interventions aimed at improving the lives of women, children and vulnerable persons in the state.
According to her, the wives of successive governors under the present administration had consistently championed women and youth empowerment programmes through vocational training and skills acquisition initiatives designed to promote self-reliance.
Hassan-Kamba also revealed that the ministry facilitated the rehabilitation and graduation of overgrown orphans by providing cash assistance and other support materials to help them establish small businesses.
She added that welfare support and feeding for social welfare institutions supervised by the ministry had increased by over 200 per cent under the present administration.
The commissioner further disclosed that the state government had sustained annual mass wedding programmes for less privileged men and women since the inception of the administration.
She said beneficiaries were provided with marriage items and household materials to support family stability and reduce financial barriers to marriage.
According to her, the initiative has contributed to promoting social cohesion and strengthening moral and religious values within communities.
On infrastructure development, Hassan-Kamba said the government renovated and upgraded the Kauran Gwandu Children’s Home in Kawara to provide a better environment for vulnerable children and orphans.
She added that the state remand home was also relocated to a newly renovated and furnished facility to improve rehabilitation services for children in conflict with the law.
“The present administration has also approved the purchase of houses, tricycles, motorcycles and other support items for vulnerable persons whenever such requests are brought before government,” she said.
The commissioner stated that the ministry had continued to commemorate major international events focused on women and child welfare, including International Women’s Day, Children’s Day, World Hijab Day and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
She also disclosed that the ministry sponsored delegates to the 24th National Council on Women Affairs meeting held in Jos, Plateau State.
Speaking on anti-human trafficking efforts, Hassan-Kamba said the ministry partnered with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to rescue and reunite more than 45 trafficked children with their families.
She added that 105 children detained in the remand home had also been rehabilitated and reunited with their families through government support.
The commissioner further said collaboration between the ministry and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had strengthened social service delivery across selected LGAs in the state.
According to her, social workers and auxiliary social workers were trained to improve child welfare services, mental health support, advocacy and interventions targeting vulnerable women and children.
Hassan-Kamba reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to sustaining inclusive programmes that improve the welfare and economic wellbeing of women, children and vulnerable groups across Kebbi State.
