Nation
Over 6,000 To Benefit From FG’s N65m Grant In Kano
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Mariam Katagum says no fewer than 6,569 persons in Kano State will benefit from the Federal Government’s N656 million grant.
The Minister disclosed this yesterday in Kano during a workshop organised for women farmers and traders association on trade facilitation and African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) programme in Nigeria.
According to the minister, the grant will be disbursed through the Federal government’s Guaranteed Offtake Scheme (GOS) and General MSME initiatives.
She explained that: “The efforts of President Muhammad Buhari on women, reflected in Nigeria’s National Gender Policy which focuses on women empowerment.
“While also making a commitment to eliminate discriminatory practices that are hampering women’s businesses from flourishing.
“My Ministry’s strategic aspiration is to accelerate the diversification of the Nigerian economy for economic growth, job creation and poverty alleviation with specific focus on women-owned businesses.
“We have reinforced this through the MSME Survival Fund, where 45% is dedicated to women-owned enterprises.
“Furthermore, regarding the MSME Survival Fund, which I have the honour to chair, it may interest you to note that, in three out of the five tracks of the scheme so far implemented, Kano State has so far recorded the following.
“19,042 beneficiaries, with a total monetary value of N1,875,660,000.00 under the Payroll Support and the Artisan Schemes;
“Under the Formalisation Support Scheme, 7,927 out of 8’406 Certificates have so far been generated for Kano businesses, totaling N47,544,000.00 in monetary value.
“This is impressive, and there is still more for Kano, as the two remaining streams unfold, i.e. the Guaranteed Offtake Scheme (GOS) and General MSME Grant totaling N656,000,000.00 and covering 6,560 beneficiaries.”
In her keynote address, Mrs Pauline Tallen, the Minister of Women Affairs commended the Federal Government for choosing to train the beneficiaries on the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) and AGOA.
“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is the national machinery through which the Federal Government of Nigeria addresses issues and concerns of women and children and other vulnerable persons; including women and children with disability in the country.
“The Ministry works with state counterparts (Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development), other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as with Development Partners, the Donor Community and Civil Society Groups to achieve its mandate.
“It is pertinent to state that women’s contributions to economic development as we speak start from the home, where families are groomed to go into the larger society,” Tallen said.
“It is also important to note that most of the house chores or succinctly referred to as domestic jobs are executed by women.
“In contemporary Nigeria, the majority of women are engaged in one productive activity or the other ranging from their involvement in entrepreneurship activities, such as farming, and the entire agricultural food chain, craft, and white collar jobs and are making exploits in their different capacities.” Tallen said.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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