The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has doled out a whooping N4.2billion as part of its unconditional Micro Grant Programme for empowering women in the rural areas across the country.
Speaking at the flag-off of its one-off unconditional Micro-grants Programme yesterday in Bauchi, Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, represented by the company’s Group Executive Director, Government and Strategic Relations, Mr. Mansur Ahmed said so far over 400,000 poor women have benefited from the programme in the country.
He said in Bauchi State, N200 Million is currently being disbursed to vulnerable women across the 20 Local Government Areas.
According to Africa’s top philanthropist, the unconditional micro grant is aimed at supporting the government ‘s efforts in empowering poor families in the State.
He said the Foundation had earmarked N10billion to be disbursed to vulnerable women across the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.
Dangote, who is the Founder of the Foundation, said states that have also benefited from the scheme include: Lagos, Kano, Jigawa, Kogi, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Niger, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Katsina and Kwara.
He added that the next states to benefit from the programme are: Osun, Edo, Ogun, Rivers, Anambra and Ebonyi, respectively.
“The Micro-grants programme is one component of the Economic Empowerment pillar of the Aliko Dangote Foundation. It provides disadvantaged and vulnerable women with a one-off, unconditional N10,000 cash transfer to boost their household income generation. This we believe will help reduce their vulnerability and meet their livelihood needs,” he added.
He said it is gratifying to note that the majority of women who benefitted from the scheme have been able to grow the seed capital.
While thanking Aliko Dangote Foundation to coming to assist the vulnerable women in Bauchi State, Governor Senator Bala Abdulkadir Muhammad said he was very elated with ADF’s intervention across the country and especially in his state.