By: TUNDE BOLAJI MINNA.
A Non-governmental Organization (NGO) has empowered ninety three female and care givers from Internally Displaced Persons camp in Zumba, Shiroro Local Government Area of Niger State.
The beneficiaries each received seed funds of fifty thousand naira (N50,000) to support their families.
The intervention, carried out under the second phase of the Z-CHAP project by the Development Initiative of West Africa, DIWA, with support from the North South Power Foundation, took place at Central Primary School, Zumba.
Speaking at the event, Consultant Public Relations for the North South Power Company Limited, Dr. Samson Esumeh, appreciated God for the success of the occasion.
He explained that the initiative was designed to empower internally displaced women with sustainable means of livelihood, especially as their children—who once depended on fetching firewood to survive—have now been enrolled back in school.
He described the intervention as timely; stressing that it would not only support the mothers financially but also secure the future of their children through education.
Programme Manager of DIWA, Musa El Thani Mohammed, revealed that in the first phase of the Zumba Child Advancement Programme (Z-CHAP), 100 children were enrolled at Central Primary School and Model Primary School, Zumba.
He assured that proper monitoring would be carried out across both phases of the programme and urged beneficiaries to put the funds to good use while ensuring their children remain in school.
He further emphasized that the long-term impact of the project depends on how well the women manage the resources to create lasting sources of income.
Also speaking, Programme Assistant, Adamu Umaru, noted that NSP Foundation, being deeply rooted in the community, understood the challenges of children being out of school.
He disclosed that before receiving the cash support, the women had undergone different skills acquisition trainings to prepare them for entrepreneurship.
Representing the Director General of the Niger State Small, Medium Enterprises and Microfinance Agency, Madaki Abdullahi highlighted the importance of financial literacy and business management.
He stressed that the support should be invested wisely in order to deliver sustainable benefits.
In separate goodwill messages, the representative of the Shiroro Council Chairman, officials of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the Emir of Zumba, and the police commended the initiative.
They also appealed to the beneficiaries to avoid frivolous spending and instead channel the funds into productive ventures that will uplift their families.
The benefiting women could not hide their excitement as they expressed joy and gratitude, describing the support as life-changing and a step towards self-reliance.
The Z-CHAP Project is being executed by Development Initiative of West Africa (DIWA) and sponsored by the North South Power Foundation (NSP).