Senator Sunday Karimi, who represents Kogi West Senatorial District, has flagged off the second phase of the Senator Sunday Steve Karimi women empowerment programme for this year in Lokoja Local Government Area.
During the event, seven women cooperative groups benefited from the empowerment scheme, with each group receiving two million naira. Each cooperative has at least 15 members, and according to the organisers, the groups were carefully selected based on their potential for growth and their capacity to make an impact in their communities.
The Coordinator of the programme, Mrs Olamide Babalola Adesoro, delivered a goodwill message from the wife of the Senator, Mrs Stellamaris Karimi. She stressed the importance of women in national development, saying that women are the backbone of society.
“Women are the backbone of the society who are found across all sectors of the economy. They need to be supported because when you build a woman, you build a community, and Senator Sunday Karimi is passionate about women as a result of the integral roles they perform and fill in society,” she said.
Mrs Adesoro also urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the funds for the intended business and community purposes, warning against spending it on frivolities.
The beneficiaries expressed appreciation to Senator Karimi and his wife for their continued support. They promised to use the funds effectively to improve their businesses, create opportunities, and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
The Senator Sunday Steve Karimi women empowerment programme is held annually. Last year, one hundred million naira was distributed to different registered women cooperative groups. For this year, over 50 new women cooperatives, different from those that benefitted in the previous phase, will also be supported with funds from the N100,000,000 programme.
Senator Karimi reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots development, saying the initiative aligns with the President Tinubu youths and women empowerment policies. He noted that the programme is designed to expand small businesses, raise income levels, improve living standards, and contribute to economic growth in Kogi West and across Nigeria.