The World Bank has lauded what it called ‘the uncommon commitment’ of the Kebbi state governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, to supporting and empowering women, youths, and other vulnerable groups in the state.
The Head of the World Bank team, Mr. Michael Ilesanmi, who is also Senior Social Development Specialist with the Bank, made the commendation following an assessment tour in Birnin Kebbi, on Wednesday.
Ilesanmi was the team leader of a task team, comprising officials from the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance Budget and National Planning, on an Implementation mission of Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), being implemented in the state.
Shortly after a courtesy visit to Gov. Bagudu, Ilesanmi said that they were in the state for an implementation support mission and it had been an amazing experience.
”The project is the first standard loans scheme for women’s economic empowerment made operational and funded by the World Bank. It is being implemented in six states, each in one of the six geo-political zones.
”In Kebbi, It is implemented in Ngaski, Maiyama, and Argungu Local Government Areas,” he said.
He commended the administration of Gov. Bagudu for ceaselessly empowering women, adding that the effort had helped to improve their livelihoods and boosted the socio-economic development of various communities in the state.
Also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Project, Mrs. Ruth Peter-Mshelia, lauded the state government for its invaluable support in ensuring the successful implementation of the project.
She also acknowledged the tremendous support and cooperation of all stakeholders, including traditional and religious leaders.
“We have tremendous improvements in empowerment, savings, and the culture of financial education. We have also seen improvements in how they manage money, loans, and how economically empowered they are,” she said.
In his response, Bagudu recalled that the project sought to empower no fewer than 54,000 women across the three benefiting local government areas, adding that the state was striving to make the project a model worthy of replication in the remaining local government areas of the state.
According to him, his administration had variously underscored the importance of women in the socio-economic development of the nation.
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“President Muhammadu Buhari has always expressed delight with the commitment, perseverance, and sagacity of Nigerian women in farming, commercial, and trading activities, among others.
“My administration would continue to commit huge resources towards empowering more women, youths, and other vulnerable groups in the state. I am also appealing to the World Bank to continue to support more Nigerian women for them to do better,” the governor said.
The NFWP is a World Bank project designed to directly impact 324,000 women nationwide, through investments in comprehensive skills training, leveraging financial and technical resources, and support to policy dialogue on women’s economic empowerment. (NAN)
