Empowerment Initiative Aims to Boost Local Businesses and Support Vulnerable Groups
Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, has officially launched a cash grant initiative aimed at empowering 8,000 women and youths across the state. Each beneficiary will receive N100,000 to support their existing and new businesses. The program was inaugurated on Thursday at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Lokoja.
Governor Ododo, represented by his deputy, Joel Oyibo, described the cash distribution as a significant milestone for the state, promoting equitable and prosperous livelihoods among the beneficiaries, who come from all 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State.
The cash grants are part of a collaboration with the World Bank under the Kogi State Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus program. The governor emphasized that the support is designed to provide essential resources for vulnerable individuals and households, enabling them to meet their basic needs, invest in education and healthcare, and participate more actively in the local economy.
“This transfer cannot be equated by the amount, but by the various value possibilities that it would add to the beneficiaries, enabling them to meet their basic needs, invest in their education, and health, and participate more fully in the economic vibrancy of the state,” Ododo stated.
He expressed hope that the initiative would have a transformative impact on communities, improving school enrollment, health conditions, reducing child labor, and empowering women and small-scale businesses. The governor urged beneficiaries to utilize the support wisely and view it as a critical step toward enhancing their quality of life and that of their families.
In her remarks, Mrs. Aishat Omade, the State Coordinator/CEO of the Kogi State Social Investment Program Agency, highlighted the importance of inclusivity in the empowerment initiative, noting her commitment to ensuring all 21 LGs are represented in the program.
Mr. Kehinde Olorunmosunle, Head of Delivery Platform State Cash Transfer Unit, added that the empowerment initiative would lay the groundwork for a brighter future, providing Kogi youths and women with the skills and knowledge necessary for a more promising future.
