10,000 women in Bauchi State to access FG`s soft loan – Minister
NAN-H-108
Loan
Bauchi, Nov. 8, 2016 (NAN) The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, has said that 10,000 women in Bauchi State would access Federal Government`s soft loan under the National Women Empowerment Fund (NAWEEF)
Alhassan, who stated this in Bauchi on Tuesday during an interactive session with women from the 20 Local Government Areas of the state, said the loan would empower them and boost economic activities in the state.
She said that NAWEEF would commence its pilot scheme in eight states that cut across the six geo-political zones.
The minister said the National Women Empowerment Fund (NAWEEF) was initiated by the Federal Government to empower women across the country.
She said the aim of the programme was to provide women with a start up seed capital for their petty trade and small enterprises.
According to her, women, with the exclusion of civil servants, are to benefit from the programme.
She said that intended applicants must form groups and register with appropriate authorities before accessing the funds.
“The NAWEEF programme is meant for only women, especially at the grassroots.
“Through the micro soft loan, women will be able to access from N10, 000 to N100, 000 payable in six months and without collateral or interest.
“The funds can only be accessible through women groups, women associations and women organisations.
“Beneficiaries will be credited through their individual accounts after filling their forms with account details and their BVN,” she said.
Earlier, the Wife of Bauchi State Governor, Hajiya Hadiza Abubakar, said that in line with its women empowerment programme, the state government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs, had trained and empowered 700 women across the state.
She said that more of such programme would be introduced to ensure that women were engaged in enhancing the economic development of the state. (NAN)
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Edited by Mustapha Lamidi.
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