The Kano State Government has expressed commitment to devote resources to improve the lives and livelihood of women, in view of the role they play in economic and social development.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Project Communication Specialist, Mr Ameen Yessar, in Kano on Sunday.
Yessar quoted the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Dr Danjuma Mahmud, saying this at the flag-off of distribution of rams and goats to women in Tudun Wada, Doguwa and Bebeji Local Government Areas, under the state Agro-pastoral Development Project (KSADP).
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Represented by the Director of Administration in the ministry, Alhaji Muhammad Jalal, the commissioner said the government intend to empower women with skills, resources and opportunities to enable them take care of their families and become more active players in nation building.
“Government takes the issue of supporting women with productive assets, such as the ram fattening and goats reproduction schemes, to assist women especially those at the grassroots to gain an economic foothold,” he said.
He stated that the distribution of the rams and goats would cover all the 44 local government areas of the state and be strictly monitored to ensure that the process is not manipulated.
The commissioner charged the beneficiaries to take good care of the livestock and to make sure that they were not sold out for frivolous reasons.
The state Programme Coordinator of KSADP, Malam Ibrahim Muhammad, disclosed that 50 women would benefit from the scheme in each of the 44 local government areas of the state.
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“About 3,474 citizens of the state have received cows, rams and goats under the first phase of the programme. The essence is to help the beneficiaries improve their income and living standard,” he emphasised.
He explained that KSADP is funded by the Islamic Development Bank, the Lives and Livelihood Funds.
He said that the state government was executing several capital projects and programmes across the state to reduce poverty, and strengthen food and nutrition security by developing agro-pastoral production systems.