By; MOHAMMED KAWU, Bauchi.
Women Empowerment Initiative (WEIN) in Bauchi has suggested self-reliance through entrepreneurship as a way out of economic recession in the country.
Bauchi WEIN Deputy Coordinator, Mrs. Hajaratu Pisagih in a paper titled “Self Reliance as a way out”, said government alone cannot solve this serious economic threat of our nation, hence the need to introduce measures of self-reliance through entrepreneurship.
Pisagih at WEIN 2016 Annual General Meeting held in Bauchi Wednesday, recalled that many well articulate policies and programs aimed at achieving economic self-reliance have been put in place by past regimes in the country.
She however said that President Muhammad Buhari is working towards diversification of the economy through self-reliance; hence community participation can be a potentially viable strategy in complementing efforts to meet the need of the populace thereby boosting the economy of the nation.
Mrs. Pisagih lamented that the economic challenge is highly threatening because of the shift to oil over dependence, saying “the falling of the international value of oil is a big blow to the Nigerian economy, as citizens are finding it difficult to cope with the decline which poses serious hardship on the populace.
According to her, to achieve self-reliant economy in Nigeria, government should consider increasing sources of lending to upcoming entrepreneurs as well as create an enabling atmosphere for private sector led economic development and genuinely support upcoming entrepreneurs through promoting favorable economic policies.
Bauchi state WEIN coordinator, Mrs. Tabawa Atiku has earlier disclosed that WEIN implemented two projects and is currently implementing four other projects funded by different donors.
She gave the projects implemented as Education Crisis Response (ECR), Gender Response Budgeting and Public Finance Policies and Practice sponsored by CISLAC, Save the Children and Northern Education Initiative Plus.
Mrs. Atiku also called on WEIN members, as well as other well-meaning Nigerians to continue to support the organization in its efforts to reposition itself for better service delivery.
