The Kano State Government has disbursed N260 million to empower another batch of 5,200 women across the state’s 44 local government areas as part of its ongoing women’s empowerment programme.
Governor Abba Yusuf, who made the announcement during the disbursement ceremony on Tuesday, said the initiative is part of his administration’s commitment to improving the livelihoods of women and promoting financial independence at the grassroots.
He explained that new measures had been introduced to ensure transparency and accountability in the process following discrepancies discovered during the first phase of the programme.
“Following the discovery of discrepancies in the disbursement during the first phase, we introduced measures to ensure the money reaches the targeted beneficiaries,” the governor said. He noted that 20-member committees were set up in each local government area, including traditional rulers, local government chairmen, and party officials, to oversee the distribution.
Governor Yusuf urged beneficiaries to invest the funds in small-scale businesses that would boost their income and enhance their families’ welfare. He added that the initiative fulfills the promise he made during the 2023 election campaigns to empower women and support their health and economic needs.
“We promised to make you self-reliant and to take care of your health, especially the health of pregnant women and children. Today, we have fulfilled our promise. We will continue this initiative with more transparency in future phases,” he assured.
Deputy Governor Aminu Gwarzo, who also spoke at the event, cautioned the beneficiaries against misusing the funds, stressing that the programme was designed to uplift their living conditions.
Several beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the state government for the intervention, describing it as a timely effort to help them start or expand small businesses and support their families.
The empowerment initiative is part of the state’s broader effort to reduce poverty, promote women’s participation in economic activities, and drive inclusive growth across Kano.
