Ogun empowers women with N200m credit scheme
The Ogun State Government has disbursed N200m to
eradicate poverty and empower women in the state.
In a statement on Tuesday by the Senior Special
Assistant on Media to the governor, Mrs. Funmi Wakama, stated that Governor
Ibikunle Amosun said the micro-credit empowerment programme was to promote
gender equality.
According to him, it is necessary to bridge the
gap between the upper and lower class of the populace through various
empowerment initiatives.
He said, “The scheme will serve as a great stride
in our attainment of some objectives of the Millennium Development Goals,
particularly eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, and equally, goal three
and eight respectively.
“This is in form of promotion of gender equality
and empowering women. It will also help to develop a global partnership for
development.”
Amosun, however, advised the 5000 beneficiaries
to ensure prompt repayment of the loan facility to encourage the government to
double the credit facility from N200m to about N500m which would involve about
10,000 beneficiaries.
“Beneficiaries must realise that you are to
commit yourself to responsible fund utilisation system and keep to strict
repayment schedule.
“We have subsidised the interest rate payable on
the loan to just one-digit level to ease repayment,” he said.
The statement also quoted the state Commissioner
for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Elizabeth Sonubi, as saying that
the micro-credit initiative was implemented to prove the importance of women in
nation building.
She said, “This scheme is being implemented to
clearly prove the fact that women play a crucial role, especially in
agriculture, business, politics and even at the traditional level. Women are
potent force to reckon with in the scheme of things, worldwide.”
December 26, 2012 by Sodiq Oyeleke
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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