Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State reiterated his administration’s commitment to eradicating poverty during a ceremony on Monday where N50,000 grants were disbursed to 5,200 women across the state’s 44 Local Government Areas.
Speaking at the event, the governor highlighted the significance of the programme as a cornerstone of his administration’s empowerment agenda. He said:
“We are here for the continuation of a remarkable programme we initiated, which is an empowerment of 5,200 women from across the 44 local government areas and from the 484 wards. Allow me at this point to refresh the memory of this gathering, as well as the good people of Kano State, about one of the promises we made during our statewide campaign in 2023.
“During that time, we promised to commit ourselves to empowering a significant number of women, so as to enable them to become self-reliant, take care of their families, and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic well-being of the entire society.
“As we witness the fulfillment of that promise, we give all gratitude to Allah for making it possible. Let me say here that since the launching of this intervention programme in May 2024, this administration has improved the livelihoods of over 41,600 vulnerable women by removing a significant financial barrier stopping them from contributing to the economy of their state.”
The programme, which provides each beneficiary with a monthly working capital of ₦50,000, aims to empower women to engage in productive ventures and gain self-reliance. Governor Yusuf underscored the importance of women in nation-building, noting that their empowerment is a critical factor in addressing the state’s socio-economic challenges.
“A significant part of our social crisis is rooted in how our society comes to invest in women and empower them to be economically competitive. A 2022 Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index report showed that Kano State ranked above the national 63% average, with about 10.5 million people being multidimensionally poor. This data shows that we must implement deliberate policies to lift millions of our citizens out of poverty, and by the grace of Allah, this is exactly what we have been doing,” he stated.
Governor Yusuf emphasized that his administration’s efforts extend beyond financial assistance, with initiatives to improve access to quality education, ensure food security, fast-track rural development, create employment opportunities, and mitigate the impact of healthcare costs on low-income earners.
He urged the beneficiaries to use the grants responsibly, assuring them that the funds were not loans but a gesture of goodwill from the government.
“At this juncture, I want to call on all the women beneficiaries of this empowerment to make sure that they utilize the capital of ₦50,000 given to each one of them responsibly. I want to re-notify you that the capital given to you is not a loan. It is government’s gesture to give them free without any refund or any tax attached to it.
“We, as a government, reason that you stand a higher chance of creating wealth in our society when you are not in debt. We hope you will reciprocate our magnanimity by investing wisely and working hard to break out of the poverty cycle. As your governor whom you have entrusted with your popular mandate in 2023, I would be the happiest person to see that by next year, most of you have become employers of labour in your locality through this programme.”
Governor Yusuf concluded by affirming that provisions have been made in the 2025 budget to prioritise social sector programmes aimed at tackling poverty.
“As we begin implementing our 2025 budget, I want to confirm that we have made adequate provisions for the social sectors to tackle poverty head-on by the grace of Allah,” he said.
The empowerment programme is part of the governor’s broader strategy to uplift vulnerable populations and improve the socio-economic landscape of Kano State.
