From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
House of Representatives Member representing Kachia/Kagarko Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Hon. Gabriel Saleh Zock, has given the sum of N37 million to 500 widows in his constituency, as business grant.
The women who were selected from the 22 wards that make up the Federal Constituency, were given N30,000 each, while those with outstanding business proposals were given between N300,000 to N500,000.
Hon. Zock who carried out the constituency empowerment programme in collaboration with the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, said the gesture was aimed at empowering the women to start or uplift their businesses, so that they can be financially independent.
However, N11 million out of the N35 million was given to about 200 Muslim and Christian religious leaders in the constituency, as financial support for their peace promotion efforts.
Addressing the women beneficiaries in Kachia on Monday, the Lawmaker urged them to utilize the fund judiciously, so that they can become financially independent and assist their respective households.
Hon. Zock while informing that, he has appointed agents to monitor the beneficiaries and their businesses, said those who run successful businesses would be further empowered with a million Naira grant after one year.
According to him, “we are here to empower the religious leaders in this month of Ramadan for the Muslims and also the season of lent for the Christians. So I deemed it fit to show my own support to the religious leaders and urged them to sacrifice their time and pray for the country so we can have peace.
“For the widows we are donating N24 million to empower about 500 women in the first phase so that they can start a small trade. Apart from the twenty four million naira there are other genuine business proposals which some got N500,000 some got N300,000, others M100,000.
“With this they can start up menial businesses and also help their children in school. We know that women are the foundation of the house and having a small business will help them go a long way. So we are trying to encourage women to stand up and learn how to do business so that we can have a business minded generation,” he said.
Earlier, a Director from the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Chukwuemeka Mba, Director of Training CMB, Kenneth Okoro and Barrister Abdulkadir Bello Idris presented papers on Gender Based Violence (GBV) and how women and communities can stop the scourge.