The Abia State government in conjunction with the ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has flagged off the Federal Government Cash Grant for Rural Women in Abia State.

This was conducted in the Michael Okpara auditorium Umuahia today March 5, 2021.

While flagging off the event, the governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu,PhD, represented by the deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Sir Ude Okochukwu, said , the cash grant is envisioned to empower rural women as part of Federal Government’s plan.

He recalled that the president, Muhammadu Buhari, promised to lift 100 million Nigerians from poverty. He said the grant is part of actions to fulfil that pledge.

The governor maintained that the cash injection, is aimed at boosting the livelihood of the rural women.

He therefore urged the women to use the cash judiciously in their businesses to ensure growth which will benefit them and the government at large.

He also assured the federal government and all agencies that the state government is always ready to partner in the overall interest of Abia and Nigeria.

Governor Ikpeazu appreciated president Buhari on all his initiatives; farmer money, N-Power, school feeding program among others, which he said are all in a bid to reduce poverty.

Speaking at the event Chinenye Nwogu, the Abia State Focal person, Social Investment Program, SIP,  said the strategic partnership between the Federal Government and the Abia State government is a necessary step to ensure that  people on all level benefit from the government.

He  lauded the governor, Okezie Victor Ikpeazu on his efforts towards ensuring that the weaker people of the society benefit from government packages.

He said; ” the governor and his vice has placed Abians in a place that they are able to access and implement federal government’s support.

” this Cash Grant could not have come on a better time than when people are battling with the pandemic and during the season when womanhood are celebrated.”

He also mentioned that  the Federal Government has paid over N600M cash transfer to Nigerians, injected about N450M to the school feeding program, adding that the money goes directly to women who serves as cooks in primary schools.

In her remark, the Hon. minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Hajj Sadiya Umar Farouq, represented by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Nura Bashiru Akali, said the federal government has has paid more attention to alleviating the lives of the masses with it’s poverty reduction goals and policies.

She said; “the SIP has impacted the lives of poor people in Nigeria.

” Today, N20,000 will be disbursed to 2,500 beneficiaries across the LGA’s of the state.

” It is our hope that the beneficiaries will make good use of the grant by using it to boost their trade.

” The federal government will continue to remain on track to improve the lives of people”.

Beneficiaries of the cash grant are from all the 17 Local government’s in Abia State including disabled persons

Responding to AF-NEWS correspondent at the event, one of the beneficiaries, Princess Ngozi Nwaguru said this is the first time women of disabilities are benefiting from such grant.

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She thanked the state government, the SIP focal person, the federal government, and the minister for Humanitarian Affairs.