The Aliko Dangote Foundation, on Wednesday, commenced the disbursement
of N130million to 13,000 women in Nasarawa state under its micro-grant
scheme.
Alhaji Aliko Dangote, chairman of the foundation, while
flagging-off the disbursement in Lafia, said the scheme was one of the
components of the economic empowerment programme of the foundation.
He
said the grant was aimed at providing the disadvantaged and vulnerable
in the society with an unconditional N10, 000 cash transfer to boost
their household income generation.
“This we believe will help the beneficiaries meet their livelihood needs,” he added.
He
explained that the scheme, which was launched a few years back, was
targeted at a minimum of 1,000 women in each of the 774 Local Government
Areas (LGAs) of the country.
“It is estimated that we will spend
about N10 billion on the scheme, some states with large population will
get a little bit more than others,” he said.
Dangote said he
started the foundation in 1993 with the belief that by supporting social
and economic changes through strategic investment and interventions
that improve the lives of the less privileged he would make a positive
difference in the growth of the country’s economy.
He said the four major goals of the foundation are -health and nutrition, education, economic empowerment and disaster relief.
He
said the foundation was partnering with Access bank to open bank
accounts for the all the 13,000 beneficiaries in the state, so they can
be issued with customised debit cards.
He said the essence was to introduce banking to the beneficiaries in their local communities.
According
to him, the beneficiaries’ accounts have been credited with the grant
and that the bank’s agents have been adequately trained and mobilised to
provide the beneficiaries with the basic banking activities.
“The
foundation and the Access bank team will be going to each of the 13
LGAs in the state to distribute the cards to the selected beneficiaries
in order to be able to redeem their cash,” Dangote said.
Also
speaking, Gov. Umaru Al-Makura thanked Dongote for the gesture
describing it as strategic, considering the hardship currently pervading
the society.
“The efforts of the foundation is in tandem with
the Federal Government’s social investment programme aimed at providing
succor to the aged, vulnerable groups and the poorest of the poor in the
society,” he said. (NAN)
