•As FGN Flags-off Rural Women Cash Grant Scheme in Ondo
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, has said that the Federal Government Rural Women Cash Grant Scheme is in consonance with his administration's aspiration to lift a sizeable proportion of women out of poverty in the state.
Describing the initiative as a welcome idea, Governor Akeredolu noted that the special grant will create an enabling platform for women empowerment, tackling poverty and resuscitating the economy after a long period of privation engendered by COVID 19 pandemic.
The Governor spoke at the Flag-Off of the Federal Government Rural Women Cash Grant Scheme held at the Government House Ground, Alagbaka, Akure on Thursday, November 26th, 2020.
The Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq who performed the flag-off alongside Governor Akeredolu said over 300 Rural women will benefit in the state.
Governor Akeredolu said:" The Ondo State Government is highly delighted for the initiative of empowering rural women as a social inclusion and poverty reduction agendum.
The Governor disclosed that his administration has always keyed into Social Intervention Programmes in ensuring the provision of a reasonable means of livelihood for the poor and the vulnerable, especially for the women folks.
While highlighting the social investment programme initiated by the Federal Government which is being enjoyed by the women in Ondo State, Governor Akeredolu listed:"The Home-Grown School Feeding Programme which engaged 1490 women out of 1506 as cooks in our public primary schools.
"The Public Workfare empowered 2,930 female who received a stipend of N7,500 monthly.
"Special Grant Transfer involves 1,084 women as beneficiaries from 65years and above, as well as 483 physically challenged persons who have received N20,000 on quarterly basis,
"State Conditional Cash Transfer took care of over 2000 women received N5,000 on monthly.
"Skills for job under Youth Employment and Social Support Operations engaged a large proportion of female.
The Governor said the people of Ondo State appreciate the Federal Government for all the Social Intervention Initiatives that have actually transformed the lives of the rural women in the State.
"it is important that I mention the fact that many of these women have transited from poverty to relative prosperity. They run their businesses now with the most probable potentials for expansion.
"We must not fail to highlight a few of the Ondo State First Lady Initiatives for Women and the Girl Child: Fowoso Empowerment Outreach across the 18 Local Government Areas of the State since 2017, where over 3,000 women were empowered through skill acquisition with start-up kits and working tools distributions.
"Solayo birth kits to the indigent expectant mothers across all the 18 Local Government Areas since 2019 till date.
"Ondo Widows Care: over 12,000 widows have benefited immensely, Bemore Girls' Palliative has about 1000 girls beneficiary in batches, Online Market Women Registration caters for welfare of all market women across the State."
Arakunrin Akeredolu expressed the readiness of the state government to collaborate with agencies of the Federal Government in ensuring remarkable improvement in the living condition of our people, particularly the rural women.
Olabode Richard Olatunde
Special Assistant to the Governor (New Media)
November 26, 2020.
📸 Nguher Gabrielle Zaki
