By Aideloje Ojo
Minna
The Federal Government has disbursed N492m operational grants to 41women rice farmers groups in Niger state under the Nigeria For Women Project; a World Bank Assisted programme.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim stated this during the commissioning of rice factories in Izom, Gurara local government of Niger state.
She explained that the Rice Mills, spread across the 3 Senatorial Districts of the state are comprised of 13 in Gurara, 16 in Agaie, and 12 in Wushishi local government area of the state.
She said, “the Project has recorded huge success in Niger State due to the support and commitment of farmer Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago. It has given hope to many people, inline with the objective of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration”.
The Minister explained that the President intends to upscale the programme across the 36 States of the Federation for more positive impacts.
In a remark, the Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, described the project as unprecedented, saying “women are good financial managers and very instrumental to the growth and development of any society”.
He applauded the Federal Government and the World Bank for initiating such programme that have been improving the lives of many Women in the State.
The Task Team Leader, Nigeria For Women Project, Mr. Michael Ilesanmi, explained that each of the Commissioned Rice Processing factory, has the capacity to produce two tons of rice per day, pointing out that they are among the 302 other projects supported by the Nigeria for Women Project Nationwide.
He said, ” so far, the Nigeria for Women project has directly supported and significantly improved the livelihoods of 460,000 women in the country”.
