***Empowers Hundreds Of Women across the 21 LGAs
By Mary Amodu, Lokoja.
Wife of Kogi State Governor, Mrs Rashidat Bello during the weekend launched a pet foundation, “Kogi Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation” (KOWYEF) to complement her husband’s effort at eliminating extreme poverty from the state.
The beneficiaries were drawn across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, issued certificate of participation including sowing machines, hair drier and a sum of 100 hundred thousand naira each as start up capital.
“I urge you all to see the start up capital as seed promised to sustain it through out the administration of her husband” she added
Mrs Bello disclosed that the main aim of the foundation is to provide unlimited opportunity for women and youths through skills acquisition, human development and empowerment.
She said “the foundation is geared towards training those who have acquired skills in various areas and to inculcate in them adequate managerial skills for business growth”
“This programme, Kogi Women and Youths Empowerment Foundation is geared towards training those who have acquired skills but need to know how to manage their business and maximise profit”.
Earlier in an address, the Chief of Staff to the state governor, Mr Edward Onoja while eulogising the effort of Mrs Bello said the aims of the foundation is in line with the vision of the Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to empower the youths and women.
Mr Onoja added that if within 45 days of this administration 42 women are empowered, it means the change Kogi state yearned for has come to stay. He expressed delight at the initiative of Mrs Bello who he described as the product of the society that she is giving back to.
On her part, the wife of the Deputy Governor Mrs Eunice Achuba implored the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the materials and fund given to them adding that monitoring team will be instituted to supervise the growth of their businesses.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Adenike Taiwo thanked the gesture of Mrs Bello and the state government. She described the initiative as unprecedented and prayed for the success of Yahaya Bello-led administration.
