Under its Women in Self Employment Programme (WISE-P), SMEDAN have disbursed N5 million grant to sixteen Women Cooperative Societies in Sokoto State.
Sokoto State Manager of SMEDAN, Mr Muazu Barau, made this known on Friday in Sokoto when he represented Director-General of SMEDAN, Dr Dikko Radda, at the end of a one-week training for the benefiting groups tagged, “Starting Your Own Business’’.
Baraun, who revealed that N312,500 was disbursed to each of the 16 groups, urged the women to use the funds judiciously, stressing that WISE-P aimed at encouraging more women to embrace agri-business as a viable business option.
According to him, the training is aimed at strengthening entrepreneurship and vocational skills of businesswomen, agri-business cooperatives and others.
He added that the programme also aimed at facilitating networking among beneficiaries for value addition and inclusive value chain development.
Barau said equally that it aimed at encouraging the diversification of the economy using available trades, production of goods and agriculture.
He expressed appreciation of the partnerships the programme enjoyed from other organisations.
Barau listed Sokoto State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SOSMEDA) and the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation as the partnering organisations.
Others are the Bank of Agriculture, the Corporate Affairs Commission, and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
According to Barau Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are recognised as engines of socio-economic transformation in developing and developed economies.
“They offer opportunities for jobs and wealth creation as well as income re-distribution in societies,’’ he said.
Also speaking at the event was the Director-General of SOSMEDA, Hajia A’isha Umar, who commended the Federal Government on the initiative.
She enjoined benefiting women to ensure judicious use of the grants.
A women leader, Malam Hafsatu Shehu, expressed appreciation at the gesture noting that it would facilitate business growth in women groups.