The First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari.
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri-
The First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari through her pet project, “Future Assured Program” in collaboration with the National Council of Women Development (NCWD) and the Borno State Government have empowered over 2,000 women and youths with start up packs to commence their businesses.
While distributing the start up items at the Multi Purpose Hall of the Government House, Maiduguri, the wife of the President Mrs Aisha Buhari said: “My pet project, Future Assured in collaboration in the NCWD and Borno State Government today we are empowering women in Borno that were devasted by the insurgency and COVID-19”.
“The start up packs include: grinding machines, sewing machines, hair dressing kits, clippers, assorted chemicals for soap makin. While the beneficiaries were carefully selected across the state “, Hajiya Buhari said.
The first Lady who was represented by the wife of Borno State Governor, Dr Falmata Babagana Zulum said: “I urge the beneficiaries not to sell the items but put in good use to increase the income of your families. I also want to commend President Buhari and Governor Zulum for supporting my pet project'”.
In her remarks, the Director General of the NCWD, Dr Assbe Vilita Bashir said “The Council was established in 1992 with the mandate of empowering women and less privilege members of the society through economic empowerment”.
According to her: “Women constituted more than 50 per cent of the population but were neglected. Hence, on assumption of duty last Monday, I assured Nigerian women of Federal Government support”.
“The items to be distributed to women today are 116 hair dressing machines, 120 generating sets, 106 clippers, 10 grinding machines, 5 deep freezers and 22 sewing machines”.
“I therefore urge the beneficiaries to put in good use the items distributed to them”, Asabe said.
The DG further assured the Nigerian women that the agency would do everything possible to uplift the standard of their living.
In her welcome address, the Borno State Commissioners of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo said the Future Assured Project of the first lady have been assisting women and less privilege in Borno state since 2016
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Aisha Maidabara thanked the President and Governor Zulum for the gesture and promised that they would put the items in good use for their benefits.