By Muhammad B. Muhammad

An empowerment programme tagged ‘Fintiri Business Wallet’ was formally launched in Adamawa State on Tuesday with 10,000 benefitting women in the first category who received 50,000 grant each.

The Business Wallet is expected to empower at least 20,000 women petty traders and another 30,000 Youths annually with the cash to either support or start up trading.

Speaking at the event in Mahmud Ribadu Square, Yola Governor Umaru Fintiri said the programme is a point where about 3 cardinal items on the administration 11-Point Agenda converge.

Fintiri said the Ministry of entrepreneurship would also follow up on each beneficiary to provide the necessary entrepreneurial support and run a “trader clinic” to guarantee the health and wellbeing of the trades.

“By the UN definition of a household meaning a woman and four other persons eating from the same pot, we shall be empowering about 10,000 households sheltering about 250,000 persons annually,” he said.

He said the significance of the event is a further reinforcement of the ingenious
belief that the instrument for poverty alleviation must be institutional in both
concept and operation.

“Youths and Women development and poverty alleviation and commerce (at the micro, small and medium scale). It is equally a point where our women are empowered to conquer their fears, float a trade and carter for their households,” he added.

The Head of PAWECA, Hajiya Aisha Bawa Bello said since 2019, the present administration has been conducting series of empowerment programmes across the state.

Haj Bello stressed that this category of empowerment was just the beginning as Governor Fintiri has approved 2.4 billion naira for the welfare of youths and women in 2023.

The Commissioner of Entrepreneurship Development, Hon. James Iliya said recently the government has empowered 492 cooperative societies with over 4000 beneficiaries among others.

He said the micro and small businesses would no doubt stimulate growth of the state asking the women to reciprocate the gesture by reelecting Governor Fintiri in this Saturday’s election.

The Speaker Adamawa State House of Assembly and Senator-elect for Adamawa Central, Alhaji Aminu Iya Abbas said Governor Fintiri’s prudence in managing resources has indeed made Adamawa a financially stable state.

The Chairman of All Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON), in Adamawa Alhaji Abdulsalam Gidado and Commissioner of Women Affairs the Lami Patrick all lauded the Governor’s empowerment initiative.

The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has collaborated with private tutors to offer special coaching to the Senior Secondary School students in order to address examination failure in Bauchi state.

Speaking during the flag off of the three-month coaching exercise in Bauchi on Thursday, the state Coordinator of NDE, Mr Lawan Yaya, said that the programme is a nationwide exercise under the Graduate Coaching Scheme (GCS) of NDE.

Yaya explained that the Director General of NDE, Malam Abubakar Fikpo had given a directive that the exercise should be open to any students aspiring to participate in the West African Examination Council.

He added that the DG also directed that the coaching should be open to students who would be participating in the National Examination Council (NECO) and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

“The management of NDE feels that our students that are participating in WAEC, NECO and even JAMB are failing these exams massively, even though the teachers are really trying their best.

“The Director General feels that it’s time for NDE to come out with a novel scheme that will assist these school children by equipping them with more knowledge on how to write their exams and come out in flying colours.

“That’s why we conceived this scheme and recruited personnel who are knowledgeable in various fields so that they can assist our children to see that they are able to pass their examinations,” he said.

According to him, 33 private tutors were recruited accros the three Senatorial district of Bauchi state with 11 in each of the district, adding that they would be engaging the students in all the subjects.

Yaya further explained that each of the tutors would be given a stipend of N20,000 per month to motivate them in discharging their responsibilities effectively.

He called on the tutors to see the programme as an avenue to further serve their nation by helping the children of others to triumph in their academic pursuit.

“The students should see this an ample opportunity for them because the training is free of charge and if they are going to pay for it somewhere, it would cost them some money.

“They should be up and doing, they should make sure they come in good time, they should listen to their instructors and whatever happens, they should abide by the rules and regulations of the centre,” Yaya said.

Speaking on behalf of others, a tutor, Salisu Ashiru, appreciated NDE for finding them worthy of the responsibility and promised to discharge their expected assignment diligently.

Dangote Cement Plc has graduated no fewer than 40 women in fashion design in Kogi State.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of the skill acquisition program Thursday at Obajana, the Plant Director, of Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana, Mr. JV Gungune, said the skill acquisition scheme was meant to support the government in its job creation efforts.

Mr. Gungune said even though the job creation scheme aptly fits into the company’s vision and mission, it cannot do it alone, nor can it employ everyone, adding that the skill acquisition program is another way of creating employment for the people of Kogi State.

The Plant Director said the beneficiaries should count themselves lucky to have been selected and trained in the program, even as he urged them to ensure that the skills and the equipment provided by the company are put into proper use.

Speaking, the Head of Social Performance Dangote Cement Plc, Mr. Wakeel Olayiwola, said the empowerment is one in the series of several other interventions among host communities being executed by Dangote Cement Plc across Africa.

Mr. Olayiwola expressed optimism that the graduates will create a chain of other graduates under them through apprenticeship, therefore bolstering the job status of communities around Kogi State.

General Manager, of Special Duties, Mr. Ademola Adeyemi said 10 women were selected each from Oyo, Iwaa, Apata, and Obajana, which makeup both the plant and the mining communities.

Mr. Adeyemi said the skill program was in partnership with the National Directorate for Employment(NDE).

On his part, NDE’s Kogi state Coordinator, Mr. Abubakar Zakari, said the participants received intensive training for three months, just as he congratulated the company for sponsoring what he referred to as a laudable program for women.

The traditional rulers of the various communities commended the company for what they described as a huge intervention.

His Royal Highness, the Olu-Apata, Oba Dr. Frederick D.O. Balogun, expressed appreciation and pledged his community’s continuing support for the company.

The Bajana of Obajana Idowu Isenibi said the “joy of the community knows no bound while urging beneficiaries to make judicious use of the skill acquired from the program.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Titilayo Onimola, 33, commended the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, while praying for God to continue to support him and make his businesses flourish.