By; NICHOLAS DEKERA, Kaduna
The Taraba Ministry of Women Affairs and Child Development through Nigeria for Women Project on Wednesday, said that it has empowered 77,306 women with skills and funds to better their fortunes.
Commissioner in the ministry, Mrs Bridget Twar disclosed this at a meeting with a visiting team from the national office of the project in Jalingo.
According to her, the five-year project had tremendously improved the lives of the beneficiaries across the three implementing local government councils of Bali, Takum and Zing so far, and that of other community members who have been engaged as ward facilitators.
“Currently, Taraba has a total of 3,252 Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) and 155 community residents engaged as Balefoot Business Councillors (BBC) who are all benefiting from the project.
“The project reach in the state covers 652 communities and more as the staff are working tirelessly to ensure full coverage of the remaining areas.
“Let me also make mention that the project set out to reach a target of 54, 000 women however, Taraba exceeded this target reaching 77,306 beneficiaries.”
She commended Governor Darius Ishaku for ensuring that Taraba is among the first six pilot states implementing the project.
Twar explained that plans are on the way to expand the project to all the 16 local government councils of the state.
Earlier, Mr Isaac Yarafa, the State Programme Coordinator (SPC) in a press conference, said the Nigeria for Women Project is aimed at supporting improved livelihood of women from 18 years and above in targeted areas of Nigeria.
According to him, the project seeks to empower women in the country to make significant contributions to household, community and national economic growth.
Yarafa, who named the pilot states as Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Kebbi, Niger, Ogun and Taraba, explained that the project is a loan from World Bank to the implementing states with the Federal Government as the guarantor.
Mrs Adesola Oyawoye, the Head of Operations and Communications Specialist for the project, sought cooperation from the media to ensure success and sustainability of the laudable project.
