By Mark Mayah
First Lady of Kebbi State, Hajiya Zainab Nasare Nasir Idris, has donated N20 million to the Association of Kebbi Women Entrepreneurs, AKWE, to boost their business activities .
She made the donation at the opening ceremony of a two-day KASUWAR SALLAH, organized by the Association, at the Haliru Abdu Stadium, Birnin Kebbi at the weekend.
A statement by Khadijat Saidu, Press Secretary to Kebbi state First Lady, made available to newsmen on Sunday, explained that the “gesture was aimed at encouraging women to stand on their feet and ensure their participation in trade and commerce.”
She directed the Organisers of the mini-trade fair (KASUWAR SALLAH) to ensure that every participant benefitted from the grant to boost their businesses.
Hajiya Zainab Nasare expressed happiness that the event has achieved its set goals and objectives, “in view of the number of participants as well as the level of engagement this year.
“Women must not be discouraged, they should remain resilient in pursuit of economic prosperity to become employers of labour”, the First Lady remarked.
Earlier, the President of the Association Hajiya Maryam Bello Bala, said the essence of the programme was to provide a platform for women to showcase their trade talents as well as encourage them to be active participants in various businesses.
“We are glad to announce that five persons among the beneficiaries of last year’s grant of N40,000 given to each of them, have made profit of about N1.5 million, N1.2million, as well as 500,000 respectively in their commercial ventures”, Hajiya Maryam said.
She solicited for additional support to women entrepreneurs throughout the state, to reduce over dependence of women on their husbands for everything.
“The Association thanks Hajiya Zainab Nasare, the wife of the governor, for her continuing support to women”,
“We reaffirm our loyalty and cooperation to the incumbent administration of Governor Nasir Idris”, she assured.
200 vendors participated in this year’s KASUWAR SALLAH.
