The Federal Government, on Wednesday, commenced the disbursement of N68m grant to 3,400 rural women in Edo State as part of efforts to tackle poverty in the country.
While giving the sum of N20,000 each of the beneficiaries in Benin, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouk, urged them not to see the grant as their own share of the national cake but an incentive meant to boost their trade and income.
Represented by Director of Humanitarian Affairs, Alhaji Ali Grema, she said the grant was introduced last year to help women in the social inclusion agenda of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).
She said the Federal Government had paid more attention to addressing the plight of the poor and vulnerable despite glaring revenue challenges, noting that one million households across the country had benefited from its Social Investment Programme.
The minister stated, “The programme was designed to provide a one-off grant to some of the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural and semi-urban areas.
“Our target in Edo is to disburse the grant to 3,400 beneficiaries across the local governments of the state. The grant is expected to increase the income and productive assets of target beneficiaries.”
The wife of the state governor, Betsy Obaseki, who was represented by wife of the deputy governor, Mariam Shaibu, lauded Buhari for his commitment to grassroots empowerment through the SIP.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Deborah Onaluwa, commended the Federal Government for the grant, saying they would use the money to boost their business.