Mrs. Otti urges beneficiaries of Project task women cash transfer to establish their own businesses
The wife of Abia Governor, Mrs. Priscilla Otti, has urged Abia women to take advantage of the Nigeria for Women Project conditional cash transfer to women to establish their own businesses.
She revealed that the aim of the project which is supported by the World Bank is to empower women to start up their own businesses in order to assist in the home front and at the same time make them economically viable.
Mrs Otti spoke on Wednesday when she visited the clusters of women in two Local Government Area in Isiala Ngwa North and Obingwa LGA among the Local Government Areas selected for the pilot phase encouraged the women to use the programme to become business owners.
The Abia first Lady point out that Governor Otti’s interest in supporting the project is to empower women to become business owners and at the same time end households poverty in Abia state.
She said, “To show his commitment towards this huge life transforming Initiative the Governor has paid the counterpart funds. This project is intended to make them wealth creators and self reliant in order to contribute meaningfully in their family.
“This phase is part of the inauguration of the livelihood collectives or coperatives to support women with equipments and tools for farming or trade and access to cheaper raw materials and market for their goods and services.
“Those who have registered with their accurate bank details have already received a credit facility of #60,000 each to start their own businesses while those who are yet to receive theirs or have issue with bank details should exercise patient, it would surely get to everyone”.
In her remarks, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Ngozi Felix, explained that the grant is meant for business start up and not to be eaten or mismanaged.
“This project is supported by Gov. Alex Otti and as part of fulfilling his campaign promises of empowering women in order to assist men economically in the home front” she stated.
Also speaking, the member representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe praised the efforts of Gov. Otti for sustaining the project.
He said the governor has shown capacity, transparency and resilience towards governance in Abia state, adding that very soon women from his constituency will be empowered by him.
Earlier, the project cordinator for Nigeria for Women Project in Abia, Mrs. Chinenye Amos, said that the project is ongoing first in three Local Government Areas selected in Abia to includes Ohafia, Obingwa and Isiala Ngwa North LGA for the pilot phase.
However, she listed some of the challenges encountered to be wrong submission of bank details and those who registered without any bank details at all.
she said,”But at the moment, we are creating cooperative society of business interest for women so that everyone will be carried along in the project”.
She advised the women to ensure that they register with accurate bank details.
The mayor of Obingwa LGA, Dr. Eric Ekwuibe said that he will set up a desk office in his council to monitor the success of the project.