PDP Woman Leader hails FG’s N1.6b loan for women

Hajiya Ummu Babawo, the Peoples Democratic Party Woman Leader in the North East, said the N1.6 billion interest free loan approved for women by the Federal Government would boost entrepreneurship at the grassroots.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, the Minister of Women Affairs, announced the initiative on Monday at a town hall meeting in Gombe State.
The minister said the funds would be disbursed under the National Women Empowerment Fund and the Federal Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme.
Babawo told NAN in Gombe on Tuesday that the programme would also increase financial access to women in the country and reduce the level of poverty, particularly at the grassroots.
She said: “These programmes will help in improving the economy of the country going by the current economic recession.
“This is the first time such development is happening and I wish to call on women to ensure that they access the loan to improve their livelihood.”
Babawo advised the women to seek advice on how to utilise the loan to make profit and repay in good time.
According to her, the development has come at the right time as many women are in need of capital to improve or start up businesses.
She said that the programme would also assist the women to support their families and reduce over dependence on their husbands.
NAN.