Sokoto First Lady hosts women to iftar, pledges expanded empowerment programmes

Wife of the Sokoto State Governor, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to empowering women economically and socially across the state.

She gave the assurance on Friday evening while hosting women from the 23 local government areas to an iftar at the Presidential Lodge in Sokoto.

Speaking after the breaking of fast, Hajiya Fatima said the administration of Governor Ahmed Aliyu has, since inception, supported thousands of women with financial grants through the Sokoto State Microfinance Development Agency (SOSMEDA).

According to her, several small and medium-scale women entrepreneurs have received cash assistance, while others were trained in different skills acquisition programmes to enhance their economic stability.

She disclosed that women engaged in food processing — including rice, millet, soybean and beans processing — were recently supported with tools and financial assistance to scale up their businesses.

The governor’s wife further revealed that the Ministry for Women and Children Affairs has trained thousands of women in hairdressing, weaving, tailoring, knitting, pomade and perfume production, bakery and sewing. She assured that more training programmes would be introduced this year to widen opportunities for women across the state.

Hajiya Fatima also noted that the Renewed Hope Initiative of Nigeria’s First Lady has provided food items and cash support to hundreds of women and elderly persons in the state to promote self-reliance.

On healthcare, she said the government has renovated several primary healthcare centres to improve access to services at the grassroots. She added that pregnant women and children would continue to receive special attention, urging women — especially in rural communities — to attend antenatal clinics regularly.

She also said efforts would be intensified to sensitise husbands in rural areas on the importance of allowing their wives to access antenatal care services.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Hadiza Shagari, commended the governor’s wife for initiating programmes aimed at improving the welfare of women and called for sustained support for the administration’s development agenda.