SMEDAN Disburses N5m Grants To 16 Women Cooperatives In Sokoto—Sixteen Women Cooperative Societies in Sokoto State have benefited from SMEDAN’s N5 million grant disbursed under its Women in Self Employment Programme (WISE-P).
Sokoto State Manager of SMEDAN, Mr Muazu Barau, said on Friday in Sokoto that N312,500 was disbursed to each of the 16 groups.
He spoke as representative of the Director-General of SMEDAN, Dr Dikko Radda, at the end of a one-week training for the benefiting groups tagged, “Starting Your Own Business’’.
Barau urged the women to use the funds judiciously, stressing that WISE-P aimed at encouraging more women to embrace agri-business as viable business option.
He said the training aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship and vocational skills of business women, agri-business cooperatives and others.
He added that the programme also aimed at facilitating networking among beneficiaries for value addition and inclusive value chain development.
Barau said equally that it aimed at encouraging the diversification of the economy using available trades, production of goods and agriculture.
He expressed appreciation of the partnerships the programme enjoyed from other organisations.
He listed the partnering organisations as the Sokoto State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMEDA) and the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation.
Others are the Bank of Agriculture, the Corporate Affairs Commission, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Barau said Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are recognised as engines of socio-economic transformation in developing and developed economies.
“They offer opportunities for jobs and wealth creation as well as income re-distribution in societies,’’ Barau said.
Earlier, the Director-General of SOSMEDA, Hajia A’isha Umar, commended the Federal Government on the initiative and enjoined benefiting women to ensure judicious use of the grants.
A women leader, Malam Hafsatu Shehu, expressed appreciation at the gesture noting that it would facilitate business growth in women groups. (NAN)
