The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), in collaboration with a Kano-based Non-Governmental Organisation (OEAHD), has provided skills empowerment training for 100 women in Kano State.
The women, who are drawn from the underserved rural communities in the 44 Local Government Areas of the State, were empowered with basic skills for earning livelihoods in Liquid, and Bath Soap Making, Shampoo making, as well as making local solutions for body decoration known as ‘Lele’ in Hausa Language.
While making presentations at the occasion, Sadiq Abubakar, a Representative of the DBN, stated that the bank, in collaboration, designed the training as an avenue to assist the targeted beneficiaries gain functional skills that they can deploy for their economic well-being.
He noted that the collaboration was in line with the mandates of the bank, which is primarily geared at providing credit guarantee to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across the 36 States and the FCT, Abuja.
Sadiq stated that the bank is particularly involved in supporting enterprises founded by women and youths, adding that since its establishment of the bank has delivered support to hundreds of SMEs in this category.
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He explained that the bank does not give credit directly to targeted individuals and businesses, but through Deposit Money Banks and Groups, which informed it collaboration with the NGO to create awareness for its activities and products.
Also, making a presentation, Abubakar Gambo, from the Bank of Industry, told the participants that the bank is currently implementing the N75 billion soft credit package initiated by the Federal Government for SMEs across the country, which attracts only 9^ interest repayment.
Gambo said that the disbursement of the loan is being carried out through DMBs, and the loan has a repayment period of 18 months, urging the beneficiaries of the training to take advantage of the package.
Earlier, Thabita Iliya Sallah, who is the national coordinator of the NGO-Organisation for Environmental, Agricultural and Health Development (OEAHD), revealed that the participants were nominated from several underserved communities in Kano State.
She explained that the training was designed as a capacity development programme for women and geared at exposing them to the latest skills in running basic businesses that the participants can leverage upon in their respective localities to earn a livelihood.
Also, addressing the participants, Zuwaira Yerima, State Coordinator of the OEAHD, said the training was an investment into the future of the participants, charging them to use it to improve their lives.
Organisations, such as, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, used the occasion to create awareness for their respective activities.
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Amina S. Abdulahi, Kano State Commissioner for Women Affairs, who was represented at the occasion, described women as backbone of the society, noting that empowering them equals empowering the society.
Amina urged the participants to leverage on the workshop to develop skills for a meaningful livelihood, while, commending the DBN, and the NGO, for the collaborations, noting that the State Government would continue to support initiative aimed at improving the lives of the citizens, particularly the women.
Speaking to BusinessDay, on the sidelines of the training programme, Rahila Emmanuel Maidoki, a participant from Karaye Local Government Area of the State, said she would be deploying the skills acquired during the training to boost the local business she intended to open in her village.
Similarly, another participant, Shallomi Ahmadu, a woman farmer, from Garko Local Government Area, stated that the training had exposed them to new skills in soap makings and in the making of local solution used for body decoration by women
The training was concluded with a certificate of participation presented to each of the 100 beneficiaries of the programme
