65,848 Women Benefit from Kaduna Conditional Cash Transfers – Gov Sani, dRPC: Empowering Women is Key to Ending GBV

65,848 Women Benefit from Kaduna Conditional Cash Transfers – Gov Sani, dRPC: Empowering Women is Key to Ending GBV

By Hussaina Yakubu

November 22, 2024

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani has announced that 65,848 women have so far benefitted from the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme under his administration.

The governor made this known during the launch of the Women Economic Empowerment Policy at the ongoing Women Economic Empowerment Summit held at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hall, Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna.

Governor Sani highlighted his administration’s significant strides in advancing women’s economic empowerment, including the Kaduna State Women Economic Empowerment Funds (KADSWEF).

He noted that KADSWEF provides annual financial support to women, with N200 million allocated in the 2024 budget. “So far, 10,786 women have benefitted, and we are set to launch the fourth tranche of funds to support more women from cooperative groups and associations,” he said.

In agriculture, Governor Sani revealed that women farmers were central to Kaduna’s largest free fertilizer distribution in Nigeria, with 240,000 bags distributed to 120,000 smallholder farmers. He also announced that over 5,000 rural and semi-urban women have been trained in modern agricultural techniques to boost productivity and reduce labor costs.

Additionally, the administration has equipped over 120 women and adolescent girls with vocational and entrepreneurship skills, emphasizing that investing in women drives economic growth and secures the state’s future.

At the summit, the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) praised Kaduna for being the first state to domesticate the National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy. Speaking on behalf of dRPC, Hassan Aliyu Karofi, Director of Partnerships and Communications, stressed the critical link between women’s empowerment and reducing gender-based violence (GBV).

“Economic empowerment strengthens women’s resilience, reduces vulnerability, and addresses root causes of violence against women. The intersection between WEE policy implementation and GBV prevention is key to fostering safer communities,” Karofi stated.

dRPC is supporting eight states in implementing the WEE policy, with 11 more states set to join next month, signaling a nationwide movement to transform the lives of Nigerian women.

Other speakers at the event commended the Kaduna State Government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, noting its positive impact on livelihoods and community development.(NAN)