Post COVID-19: Aisha Buhari Empowers Women With Cash In Delta Community

By Wilson Macaulay
In a bid to alleviate the suffering of women after the Covid-19 pandemic that ravaged the economy of the world, the President”s wife, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, has empowered women in Delta State with cash gift through the National Directorate of Employment: a micro Enterprise Enhancement Scheme, Delta State Chapter.

The programme which took place at Beeland Hotel in Udu Local Government Area of the state over the weekend was unique in many perspective.

In her address, the wife of the President represented by Mrs. Janet Oyubu said she was concerned about the the plight of women especially the rural dwellers having gone through financial stress occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, saying she decided to assist them with a token to enable them start a petty trade to be able to take care of their family since many women are bread winners in their homes.

The President’s wife also charged women to always contribute their quota for the advancement of the country for the good of all.

She said the scheme is meant to empower 250 rural women across the 25 local government areas of the state, adding that this is the first phase and that sebsequently, other phases would follow as a total of 1200 women would be empowered.

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She said after six months, the beneficiaries would be appraised to know how they used the money, saying if there is a meaningful progress, they would not only be given more money but given different skill aquisition programmes which would be based on how to make soap, bead, and others.

The wife of the President said President Muhammedu Buhari-led government is poised to reposition the country for speedy growth and development after the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said: “Many women from the rural areas are the bread winners of their family so, the federal government deemed it fit to assist them (women) with the token to enable them engage in whatever business of their choice to feed their family.”

She expressed thanks to President Muhammedu Buhari to have given the needed support for the programme to be a successful one just as she thanked the Honourable Minister of State for Labour, Hon Festus Keyamo (SAN) and others who made the programme a success.

On his part, the Director General of the National Directorate of Employment, Dr Nasir Mohammed, said the programme is aimed at empowerng women in the state generally and not for party affiliation.

The Director General of NDE who was represented by the State Co-ordinator, Mr. Olu Chuxs Ton,y said the programme would be in phases as after this group, another group of women would follow suit.

He therefore advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the money given to them in order to achieve the purpose for which the programme is meant.

He said: “The token being given out today is to assist the rural women to start small scale business to enable them take care of their family.”

The beneficiaries of the empowerment programme expressed joy and appreciation to the wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and the Director General of National Directorate of Employment for the cash splash and promised to put the money into good use by embarking on petty trade in order to take care of their families.

They also thanked the Minister of State for Labour, Hon Fetus Keyamo (SAN) for working in conjunction with the Direcotor General of National Directorate of Employment and other stakeholders in this regard which have paved way for the empowerment given to them.

Highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of the cash gifts to the beneficiaries amidst applauds.